Tumor–brain crosstalk worsens lung cancer
It is not clear how the brain senses and responds to tumors in peripheral organs, although tumors are innervated by different branches of the peripheral nervous system and increased tumor innervation is associated with poor cancer outcomes.
Authors in this study identify an immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment established by a tumor–brain axis that promotes oncogenesis.
The researchers demonstrate that lung adenocarcinoma induces innervation and functional engagement of vagal sensory neurons. Mechanistically, the vagal sensory nerves transmit signals from lung tumors to brainstem nuclei, driving elevated sympathetic efferent activity in the tumor microenvironment. This, in turn, suppresses β2 adrenergic signalling in alveolar macrophage and anti-tumor immunity.
Disruption of this sensory-to-sympathetic pathway significantly inhibited lung tumor growth by enhancing immune responses against cancer.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10028-8
https://sciencemission.com/Tumour%E2%80%93brain-crosstalk
