Cancer Neuroscience of Brain Tumors: From Multicellular Networks to Neuroscience-Instructed Cancer Therapies.

in Cancer discovery by Varun Venkataramani, Yvonne Yang, Sebastian Ille, Bogdana Suchorska, Sonja Loges, Heike Tost, Felix Sahm, Stefan M Pfister, Andreas Trumpp, Sandro M Krieg, Thomas Kuner, Wolfgang Wick, Frank Winkler

TLDR

  • The study reviews recent insights into the neural mechanisms driving brain tumor development and progression, highlighting the significance of neural influences on brain tumors.
  • The findings have important implications for developing new treatments for brain tumors, and future research should explore the neural mechanisms underlying brain tumor biology.

Abstract

Deepening our understanding of neuro-cancer interactions can innovate brain tumor treatment. This mini review unfolds the most relevant and recent insights into the neural mechanisms contributing to brain tumor initiation, progression, and resistance, including synaptic connections between neurons and cancer cells, paracrine neuro-cancer signaling, and cancer cells' intrinsic neural properties. We explain the basic and clinical-translational relevance of these findings, identify unresolved questions and particularly interesting future research avenues, such as central nervous system neuro-immunooncology, and discuss the potential transferability to extracranial cancers. Lastly, we conceptualize ways toward clinical trials and develop a roadmap toward neuroscience-instructed brain tumor therapies. Significance: Neural influences on brain tumors drive their growth and invasion. Herein, we develop a roadmap to use these fundamentally new insights into brain tumor biology for improved outcomes.

Overview

  • The main focus of the study is to review the recent insights into the neural mechanisms contributing to brain tumor initiation, progression, and resistance.
  • The study explores the synaptic connections between neurons and cancer cells, paracrine neuro-cancer signaling, and cancer cells' intrinsic neural properties.
  • The primary objective of the study is to develop a roadmap for using these new insights into brain tumor biology for improved outcomes.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study highlights the neural influences on brain tumors, which drive their growth and invasion.
  • The findings show that neural mechanisms play a crucial role in brain tumor development and progression.
  • The study identifies unresolved questions and future research avenues, including central nervous system neuro-immunooncology and its potential transferability to extracranial cancers.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study's findings have significant implications for developing new treatments for brain tumors.
  • Future research should focus on exploring the neural mechanisms underlying brain tumor initiation, progression, and resistance.
  • Clinical trials should be conducted to test the effectiveness of neuroscience-instructed brain tumor therapies.
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