Onco-neurology: a clinical perspective on cancer-associated neurological complications

Advances in cancer screening and treatment have improved survival, while neurological complications in patients with cancer are gaining clinical relevance. Many of these complications are not attributable to direct tumor invasion, compression, or metastasis, but rather reflect immune-mediated mechanisms, treatment exposure, systemic disturbances, or tumor-associated biological processes. They are commonly discussed under categories such as paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, treatment-related neurotoxicity, immune-related adverse events, or related disorders. However, these categories often overlap and require integrated assessment across oncology and neurology. In this Correspondence, we propose “onco-neurology” as a term to describe cancer-associated neurological complications that extend beyond direct nervous system involvement. This concept complements neuro-oncology and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes by emphasizing treatment-related, immune-mediated, systemic, and mixed neurological disorders. Recognition of this field may reduce diagnostic fragmentation, support multidisciplinary evaluation, and promote tumor–immune–neural research.