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Review
. 2023 Sep 13:13:1187477.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1187477. eCollection 2023.

The role of the oxytocin system in the resilience of patients with breast cancer

Shaochun Liu  1 , Runze Huang  1 , Anlong Li  1 , Sheng Yu  1 , Senbang Yao  1 , Jian Xu  1 , Lingxue Tang  1 , Wen Li  1 , Chen Gan  1 , Huaidong Cheng  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

The role of the oxytocin system in the resilience of patients with breast cancer

Shaochun Liu et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Breast cancer is a grave traumatic experience that can profoundly compromise patients' psychological resilience, impacting their overall quality of life. The oxytocin system represents one of the essential neurobiological bases of psychological resilience and plays a critical role in regulating resilience in response to social or traumatic events during adulthood. Oxytocin, through its direct interaction with peripheral or central oxytocin receptors, has been found to have a significant impact on regulating social behavior. However, the precise mechanism by which the activation of peripheral oxytocin receptors leads to improved social is still not completely comprehended and requires additional research. Its activation can modulate psychological resilience by influencing estrogen and its receptors, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thyroid function, 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism levels, and arginine pressure release in breast cancer patients. Various interventions, including psychotherapy and behavioral measures, have been employed to improve the psychological resilience of breast cancer patients. The potential effectiveness of such interventions may be underpinned by their ability to modulate oxytocin release levels. This review provides an overview of the oxytocin system and resilience in breast cancer patients and identifies possible future research directions and interventions.

Keywords: behavioral interventions; breast cancer; oxytocin system; psychotherapy; resilience.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of oxytocin regulating breast cancer patients’ psychological resilience by controlling the nervous system and endocrine function. HPA axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between psychological or physiological influences by regulation of the oxytocin system and resilience in patients with breast cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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