2024-03-08 19:03:00
Scientists are getting closer to understanding the problem of excessive aggressiveness of some brain tumors, including glioma, which is considered one of the most difficult to treat. It turns out that these malignant tumors use neural signals to grow.
According to information published on news.cuanschutz.edu, researchers from the University of Colorado found that active neurons produce neurotransmitters and other proteins that stimulate cell division.
Cancer cells begin to actively use this ability of neurotransmitters to stimulate tumor growth. Paradoxically, the greater the activity of neurons, the faster the division of pathological cells, which leads to more aggressive tumor growth.
Tumors of the head and neck affect nearby nerves, causing them to switch to norepinephrine signals. The study found that sensory nerves can suppress tumor-fighting immune system activity by releasing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which suppresses T-cell activity.
To correct this situation, it is proposed to block the nerves. According to the study, gabapentin and Botox were used on mice to suppress neural activity, which led to promising results. The next step will be to test these methods in humans with the aim of using the corresponding drugs in anti-cancer therapy.
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