癌症神经科学是一个致力于探索癌症与神经系统之间相互作用的有前景的领域，引起了越来越多的关注。胃肠道表现出广泛的神经支配，其显着特征是内在神经支配。肠道拥有大量的神经胶质细胞，包括包裹周围神经系统神经元轴突的雪旺细胞和与内在神经支配错综复杂的肠神经胶质细胞。胶质细胞在维持肠道生理功能方面发挥着至关重要的作用，包括营养吸收、屏障完整性和免疫调节。然而，直到最近，神经胶质细胞在结直肠癌（CRC）中的重要性才开始受到相当大的关注。新数据表明，肠道中的神经胶质细胞通过与癌细胞相互作用、影响炎症和调节肿瘤微环境，促进结直肠癌的进展和转移。在此，我们总结了胶质细胞在CRC发生和进展中的重要作用，并讨论了可以融入该领域进行深入探索的最新技术，以及未来探索中潜在的具体靶向策略，以造福患者。 © 2024。由 Elsevier B.V. 出版

Cancer neuroscience, a promising field dedicated to exploring interactions between cancer and the nervous system, has attracted growing attention. The gastrointestinal tracts exhibit extensive innervation, notably characterized by intrinsic innervation. The gut harbors a substantial population of glial cells, including Schwann cells wrapping axons of neurons in the peripheral nervous system and enteric glial cells intricately associated with intrinsic innervation. Glial cells play a crucial role in maintaining the physiological functions of the intestine, encompassing nutrient absorption, barrier integrity, and immune modulation. Nevertheless, it has only been in recent times that the significance of glial cells within colorectal cancer (CRC) has begun to receive considerable attention. Emerging data suggests that glial cells in the gut contribute to the progression and metastasis of CRC, by interacting with cancer cells, influencing inflammation, and modulating the tumor microenvironment. Here, we summarize the significant roles of glial cells in the development and progression of CRC and discuss the latest technologies that can be integrated into this field for in-depth exploration, as well as potential specific targeted strategies for future exploration to benefit patients.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.