Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor Tiago OuteiroORCiD
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
© 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Cancer and neurodegeneration are two major leading causes of morbidity and death worldwide. At first sight, the two fields do not seem to share much in common and, if anything, might be placed on opposite ends of a spectrum. Although neurodegeneration results in excessive neuronal cell death, cancer emerges from increased proliferation and resistance to cell death. Therefore, one might expect significant differences in the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the more we deepen our understanding of these two types of diseases, the more we appreciate the unexpected overlap between them. Although most epidemiological studies support an inverse association between the risk for development of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, increasing evidence points to a positive correlation between specific types of cancer, like melanoma, and neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's disease (PD). We believe that deciphering the molecular processes and pathways underlying one of these diseases may significantly increase our understanding about the other. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches in cancer, may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of neurodegeneration, and vice versa. In this Viewpoint, we summarize recent findings connecting both diseases and speculate that insights from one disease may inform on mechanisms, and help identify novel biomarkers and targets for intervention, possibly leading to improved management of both diseases. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Author(s): Filippou P, Outeiro TF
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Movement Disorders
Year: 2021
Volume: 36
Issue: 2
Pages: 340-346
Print publication date: 01/02/2021
Online publication date: 21/12/2020
Acceptance date: 24/11/2020
ISSN (print): 0885-3185
ISSN (electronic): 1531-8257
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28425
DOI: 10.1002/mds.28425
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
