Gut’s ‘Second Brain’ Holds Key to New Cancer Treatments, Australian Study Finds
A groundbreaking study reveals a potential new strategy for fighting gastrointestinal cancers by targeting components of the nervous system within the gut, offering hope for repurposing existing migraine drugs for cancer treatment.
Australian researchers have identified two key components of the nervous system that appear to drive tumor growth in gastrointestinal cancers, opening promising new avenues for treatment.The research, conducted by teams at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) and La Trobe School of Cancer Medicine, focuses on the role of neuropeptides – signaling factors produced and released by nerves – in the progression of colorectal and stomach cancers.
Our digestive system isn’t simply responsible for processing food; it possesses its own intricate nervous system, often referred to as the “second brain.” This network relies on neuropeptides to relay messages and influence various bodily processes. The study pinpointed CGRP, a common neuropeptide, and its receptor RAMP1 as significant influencers of tumor growth.
“We where surprised to see not only nerve fibers containing CGRP inside the tumors and potently promoting their growth, but also the tumor cells themselves producing CGRP,” stated a lead author of the research, published today in BMJ Oncology. “This is very impactful because we have identified a new way that tumors can manipulate their environment to sustain their growth.”
The significance of this finding lies in the fact that drugs already exist to target CGRP and RAMP1 – currently used to treat migraine headaches. This presents a unique prospect to repurpose these therapies for cancer treatment, possibly accelerating the timeline for clinical request. Researchers demonstrated the impact of RAMP1 by using genetic engineering to delete the receptor in tumor cells,resulting in a significant reduction in their growth.
A senior researcher emphasized the potential of this approach, stating, “This is a druggable nerve-tumour pathway with existing therapies that are already well tolerated in other diseases, supporting ONJCRI’s goal of making cancer treatments not just effective, but kinder and easier on the patient.”
The next phase of research will focus on testing existing migraine therapies that inhibit CGRP to determine their effectiveness as cancer treatments.Researchers hope to incorporate these inhibitors into clinical trials alongside conventional colorectal cancer therapies in the future.
“The role of the nervous system in cancer is an exciting new area of research, with high potential for novel treatment approaches,” explained a laboratory head at ONJCRI.
The global impact of gastrointestinal cancers is significant, accounting for 1 in 4 cancer cases – approximately 4.8 million diagnoses – and 1 in 3 cancer deaths, totaling 3.4 million annually. This research offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against these devastating diseases.
Hear’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions, turning the update into a substantive news report:
Why: Researchers are seeking new ways to combat gastrointestinal cancers, which have a significant global impact, accounting for a large proportion of cancer cases and deaths. They are exploring the role of the nervous system in tumor growth, a relatively new area of study.
Who: The research was conducted by teams at the Olivia newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) and la trobe School of Cancer Medicine in Australia. Key individuals include a lead author of the study published in BMJ Oncology and a
