How Nerve Cells Aid Cancer Growth and Spread

Quick Summary

• Scientists are increasingly exploring the interaction between nerve cells and tumors, revealing that nerves play a central role in cancer growth, spread, and immune suppression.
• Key discoveries include:

– Aggressive tumor cells wrap around and migrate along nerves utilizing nutrients to grow.
– Nerves boost tumor survival by producing growth factors and enabling cancer cell migration via lymphatic vessels.
– Nerve signals suppress T-cells (immune defense) while bolstering immune cells that support tumors.
– Specific nerve types influence distinct cancers; sympathetic nerves drive breast/prostate cancers, parasympathetic nerves are mixed in impact. Sensory neurons can even reprogram themselves to fuel cancer growth.

• Human studies show more nerves within tumors correlate wiht reduced survival rates; some drugs like beta blockers show promise in slowing this process across breast, skin, prostate cancers & glioblastoma.
• Pharmaceutical industry inertia is highlighted as a challenge for drug trials repurposing older treatments.

Images:

1. Pancreatic tumor interacting with neurons highlighted under microscope (Source: Peter Wang).
2. Prostate patient undergoing radiotherapy showing neural targeting potential (Source: DR P MARAZZI).
3. Beta blocker effects on breast cancer treatment during clinical trials (Source: Klaudia Radecka).