Researchers discovered a link between neural activity and the development of cancer in a new study published in Science Translational Medicine. The ramifications of this research are immense, as it suggests that the brain’s complicated neural networks play an essential role in the development and advancement of cancer. Â
Harvard Medical School is at the forefront of research on the electrical transmission between neurons (nerve cells) and cancer cells. According to the findings, this interaction is essential in the genesis and development of cancer. The revelation of this previously unknown electrical activity in oncology has wholly changed our knowledge of the dynamics of malignant tissue.
These findings have far-reaching implications, indicating that successful cancer therapy may entail targeting both biological pathways and electrical connections. Since this finding, a whole new field of study has evolved, which has been dubbed “cancer neuroscience.” Clearly, we want to use cutting-edge information from many disciplines of neuroscience to investigate various malignancies.
Neurons have been found to play a significant role in the microenvironment of brain tumors. Tumor cells have been demonstrated to be directly impacted by neural communication, or synaptic transmission, in order to activate growth-promoting pathways. Extensive study has revealed that brain activity has a significant impact on numerous forms of high-grade gliomas.
Glial cells in the brain are the source of gliomas, a kind of cancer. Neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) is a recently identified critical synaptic molecule. This molecule, according to researchers, catalyzes the activation of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, increasing the creation of gliomas. Glioma development was significantly slowed in mice missing NLGN3. Researchers are considering a treatment study to inhibit the development of NLGN3 in the tumor microenvironment in light of this significant discovery. Â
Another significant finding was the discovery of connections in the tumor microenvironment between glioma cells and neurons. These AMP-activated protein kinase A (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR)-mediated connections imply that gliomas are more deeply integrated into functioning brain circuits. These cells may have a more substantial impact on the tumor microenvironment when they function in concert than when they act alone. Â
The researchers expanded their analysis beyond the brain to look at how neural activity influences the establishment of secondary malignancies. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor, was studied by the researchers. The results were unexpected: brain metastases from SCLC were significantly influenced by neural activity. Â
This study looked into the theory that cancer cells develop traits that allow them to interact with the host organ’s environment (the “seed-and-soil” idea). More research on these interactions is needed, especially in the setting of SCLC brain colonization, so that novel therapy approaches may be investigated. Â
Finally, the findings of this groundbreaking study emphasize the importance of neural-cancer cell interaction in tumor formation. The study’s principal author believes that shifting focus from individual cells to entire systems would result in dramatic progress in the battle against cancer. We may be able to identify new therapies for these horrible diseases if we can find a method to interrupt the connections between neurons and cancer. Â
Journal Reference Â
Venkatesh, H. S. (2023). Science Translational Medicine, 15(706). doi:10.1126/scitranslmed. adi5170Â
