Is Stress a Causative Agent of Cancers? : A Mini Review

Background and Aim: Stress has long been considered a potential influencer of cancer, but its role remains complex and uncertain. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate stress as a causative factor for cancer, a perspective that has not been thoroughly explored. The innovative aspect of this study lies in its holistic assessment of stress as a potential cancer inducer.
Method: This review systematically gathered and analyzed scientific literature to investigate stress as a potential cancer inducer. It focused on stress's impact on cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Inclusion criteria ensured study quality and relevance. Stress-related variables and molecular mechanisms were assessed, adhering to systematic review guidelines.
Results: While stress appears to have substantial effects on cancer processes, the research landscape has yielded ambiguous results, often showing weak or no correlation between stress and cancer incidence, metastasis, or progression. This raises the question of whether stress is a critical biological agent in cancer etiology, a topic that demands further investigation.
Conclusion: The relationship between stress and cancer remains intricate and inconclusive. While stress seems to exert significant influences on cancer processes, the existing body of research has produced mixed findings. More studies are essential to determine whether stress plays a pivotal role as a causative factor in cancer development. Further research can potentially provide clarity on this complex interplay between stress and cancer.