The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (12): 1929-1935.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.12.023

• Reviews • Previous Articles    

Research progress of perineural invasion in gynecological malignant tumors

Yekun HE,Ying LONG(),Lizhang CEN,Desheng. YAO   

  1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology,Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University,Nanning 530021,Guangxi,China
  • Received:2025-01-13 Online:2025-06-25 Published:2025-07-02
  • Contact: Ying LONG E-mail:longcljying@163.com

Abstract:

As a distinct pathological factor and metastatic route of malignant tumors, perineural invasion (PNI) exhibits a close association with the prognosis of several cancer types. In recent years, the clinical significance and underlying mechanisms of PNI in gynecological malignant tumors have increasingly drawn research attention. Currently, it is recognized that PNI is clinicopathologically and prognostically linked to cervical cancer and vulvar cancer. The exploration of its mechanisms encompasses multiple gynecological tumors and numerous molecular pathways, including the CCL2/CCR2 axis, NGF/TrkA pathway, GluR2, among others. Nevertheless, the existing research models are fragmented, lacking systematicity and in-depth analysis, thus necessitating integration. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the occurrence of PNI in gynecologic malignancies, its correlations with clinicopathology and prognosis, its implications for surgical approaches and postoperative adjuvant therapies, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. By synthesizing the advancements in both clinical and basic research, this review aims to offer a solid theoretical foundation for further exploration of the mechanisms underlying PNI in gynecologic malignancies and for the optimization of clinical therapeutic strategies.

Key words: perineural invasion, cervical cancer, vulvar carcinoma, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer

CLC Number: