Brain–Gut Axis and Neuroendocrine Signaling in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Emerging research highlights the profound influence of the brain–gut axis and neuroendocrine signaling pathways in the development, progression, and therapeutic response of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, and biliary tract malignancies. The intricate interplay between the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, hormones, and immunity within the GI tract and related organs is increasingly recognized as a driver of tumor biology, metastatic potential, immune evasion, and resistance to treatment.

This Research Topic aims to bring together the latest findings and perspectives on how neural, neuroendocrine, and neuroimmune mechanisms contribute to GI and hepatobiliary cancers. We welcome submissions, including original research, reviews, and perspectives, addressing, but not limited to:

• Mechanistic insights into the brain–gut axis in GI cancer initiation, progression, or metastasis.

• Roles of neuroendocrine signaling molecules, receptors (e.g., muscarinic receptors), neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine), and neuropeptides in shaping the tumor microenvironment.

• Neural and hormonal modulation of immune responses and tumor–stroma interactions.

• Influence of psychological stress, innervation, or hormonal states on GI cancer biology.

• Experimental models (in vitro, in vivo, organoid) or clinical studies investigating neuroendocrine and brain–gut pathways in cancer settings.

• Translational or therapeutic approaches targeting the neuroendocrine or neural–gut axis in GI oncology.

• Biomarker discovery related to neural and neuroendocrine pathways for prognosis or therapeutic decision-making.

By spanning basic, translational, and clinical research, this collection aims to stimulate cross-disciplinary collaboration and highlight innovative strategies to better understand and treat GI and hepatobiliary cancers through the lens of neurobiology and endocrine regulation.

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Gastrointestinal cancers, Brain–gut axis, Neuroendocrine signaling, Tumor microenvironment, Neural regulation, Neurotransmitters, Muscarinic receptors, Biomarkers, Therapeutic targets

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.