The role of depression in the progression of tumor cell inflammation and the potential regulatory mechanisms of aerobic exercise - a narrative review from molecular and cellular perspectives

Sep 28, 2026

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Narrative review examining how depression contributes to tumor cell inflammation and tumor progression through neuroimmune and endocrine pathways. Chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment is highlighted as a driver of tumor initiation, advancement, and immune evasion, while depression can amplify inflammatory signaling via neurotransmitter imbalance and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation alongside immune system malfunction. Aerobic exercise is discussed as a non-pharmacological modulator that may reduce inflammation, rebalance neurotransmitters, and improve immune surveillance, although excessive intensity can induce immunosuppression.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Depression and tumor progression via neuroimmune and endocrine pathways

Chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment

Aerobic exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention

TYPE Review PUBLISHED 17 December 2025 DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1683058 OPEN ACCESS EDITED BY Domenico De Berardis, ASL 4, Italy REVIEWED BY Fabiola Raffone, Asl Napoli 1 Centro, Italy O´scar Fraile-Martnez, University of Alcal´a, Spain *CORRESPONDENCE Jianda Kong [jianda0426@163.com](jianda0426@163.com)[ ](jianda0426@163.com)Chuankai Luan [luanchuankai1@163.com](luanchuankai1@163.com) RECEIVED 11 August 2025 REVISED 14 November 2025 ACCEPTED 17 November 2025 PUBLISHED 17 December 2025 CITATION Ren M, Kong J, Luan C and Mu Y (2025) The role of depression in the progression of tumor cell inﬂammation and the potential regulatory mechanisms of aerobic exercise: a narrative review from molecular and cellular perspectives. Front. Psychiatry 16:1683058 . doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1683058 COPYRIGHT © 2025 Ren, Kong, Luan and Mu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. The role of depression in the progression of tumor cell inﬂammation and the potential regulatory mechanisms of aerobic exercise: a narrative review from molecular and cellular perspectives Mingming Ren 1, Jianda Kong 1*, Chuankai Luan 1* and Yujing Mu 2 1College of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Jining, China, 2 Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing, China There is a tight correlation between depression, and tumor progression, particularly via the regulation of the immune system, and inﬂammatory responses. Chronic inﬂammation is a member of the core causes in the tumor microenvironment, which can promote tumor initiation, progression, and immune evasion. An increasing body of literature has reported that aerobic exercise (AE), as a non-pharmacological intervention, can display potential in anti-tumor therapy by modulating the immune system, delaying chronic inﬂammation, and increasing neurotransmitter balance. However, it is worth noting that extreme AE may cause negative inﬂu en ces, such as immunosuppression, which inﬂuences its anti-tumor efﬁcacy. Our review aims to investigate how depression inﬂuences the inﬂammatory progression of tumor cells via immune regulation, and the potential regulatory processes of AE in this mechanism. Moreover, we further explore the potential of AE in tumor treatment, and delves into its potential deleterious impacts. via this literature review, together with perspectives from molecular, and cellular biology, notably, our review explores the inﬂuences of depression, and AE on the tumor microenvironment, and immune responses. It centers on the contribution of AE in modulating immune cell functions, delaying chronic inﬂammatory responses, and increasing neurotransmitter balance. Depression promotesinﬂammatory responses in the tumor microenvironment via neurotransmitter imbalance, abnormal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and immune system dysregulation, hence triggering tumor growth, and metastasis. AE can positively modulate the immune system, decrease inﬂammation, as well as improve tumor immune surveillance function. Moderate AE modulates immune responses in the tumor microenvironment in the context of enhancing the activity of immune cells, lowering the levels of proinﬂammatory factors, and improving the production of anti-inﬂammatory Frontiers in Psychiatry 01 [frontiersin.org](frontiersin.org) factors, hence blocking the growth, and spread of tumor cells. However, extreme AE may cause immunosuppression, inﬂuencing anti-tumor inﬂuences, so individualized changes to the intensity, and frequency of exercise interve

FAQs

How does depression influence tumor progression according to the review?

The review links depression to accelerated tumor progression through neuroimmune and endocrine mechanisms, including neurotransmitter imbalance, HPA-axis dysregulation, and immune system dysregulation that promote inflammatory responses in the tumor microenvironment.

What role does chronic inflammation play in the tumor microenvironment?

Chronic inflammation is described as a core cause in the tumor microenvironment that can facilitate tumor initiation and progression and enable immune evasion.

How can aerobic exercise affect tumor inflammation and immune regulation?

Moderate aerobic exercise can modulate the immune system, decrease inflammation, improve tumor immune surveillance, and enhance anti-inflammatory processes, but extreme aerobic exercise may cause immunosuppression that could reduce anti-tumor efficacy.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet