IL6 and cancer: Interestingly, the activation of dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area to the medial prefrontal cortex using optogenetic methods was found to alleviate anxiety symptoms induced by chronic stress, reverse the increase in cytokines associated with tumor growth and progression (such as VEGF, bFGF, and IL-6), and significantly slow the advancement of breast cancer.260,322 These findings suggest that not only pharmacological interventions but also novel approaches like optogenetics might play a role in modulating the stress response and potentially impacting cancer progression.