Research by a team from The Ohio State University has identified stress hormones as a significant contributing factor to the progression of multiple myeloma, alongside previous findings related to ovarian and nasopharyngeal cancers. The study explored the effect of stress hormones like norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol, which may be triggered by various psychological and environmental factors, on the growth and behavior of cancer cells.

Researchers worked with human cell lines representing different stages of multiple myeloma to assess how these stress hormones influence vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key player in blood vessel development supporting tumor growth. Their findings indicate that norepinephrine significantly stimulates the growth of these cells, with effects varying by hormone concentration and exposure duration. These results suggest potential pathways through which stress may influence tumor progression in multiple myeloma, pointing to a need for further research on managing chronic stress and its impacts on cancer.

Reference: Weinhold B. Cancer: Stress Link Redefined. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Feb;116(2):A68. PMCID: PMC2235232.