Stomach Cancer: The shocking Role of Electrical Connections

A recent breakthrough in cancer research has uncovered a startling new connection between stomach cancer and the nervous system. Researchers have discovered that stomach cancers create electrical pathways with nearby sensory nerves, effectively hijacking the body’s own wiring to fuel their growth and spread.

Unveiling a Direct Link: Electrical Communication between Cancer and Nerves

This finding represents the first time that direct electrical communication between nerves and cancer cells outside the brain has been observed.”We certainly know that many cancers exploit nearby neurons to fuel their growth,” says Timothy Wang, Silberberg Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, who led the groundbreaking study. “But outside of cancers in the brain, these interactions have been attributed to the secretion of growth factors broadly or through indirect effects. Now that we know the communication between the two is more direct and electrical,it raises the possibility of repurposing drugs designed for neurological conditions to treat cancer.”

A Rapid Communication Network: How Cancer Exploits Nerves

The finding sheds light on a previously unknown mechanism by which tumors can rapidly communicate and manipulate their surrounding environment. While researchers have long recognized the importance of the tumor microenvironment – the complex network of cells, blood vessels, and other structures surrounding a tumor – the role of nerves in this ecosystem has only recently come under scrutiny. “The nervous system works faster than any of these other cells in the tumor microenvironment, which allows tumors to more quickly communicate and remodel their surroundings to promote their growth and survival,” explains Wang.

Building an Electrical Circuit: How Stomach Cancer Hijacks Sensory Nerves

Wang’s team focused on sensory neurons, which display a strong reaction to the presence of stomach cancer. These neurons extend deep into tumors, attracted by a protein released by cancer cells called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). Onc established, the connection between tumor and neuron allows the tumor to signal the neuron to release the peptide Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP), generating electrical signals within the tumor.

“There’s a circuit that starts from the tumor, goes up toward the brain, and then turns back down toward the tumor again,” Wang describes.It’s like a feed-forward loop that keeps stimulating the cancer and promoting its growth and spread.”

Targeting the Circuit: A New Avenue for Stomach Cancer Treatment

This electrical connection represents a potential new target for treating stomach cancer.CGRP inhibitors, already used to treat migraines, have shown promise in preclinical studies.When administered to mice with stomach cancer, these inhibitors reduced tumor size, increased survival, and prevented the spread of cancer.

“Based on our analysis of stomach cancer data from patients, we believe that the circuits we’ve found in mice also exist in humans and targeting them could be an additional useful therapy,” Wang emphasizes.

Expanding the Horizon: Beyond Stomach Cancer

While this study focused on stomach cancer, the discovery of communication between cancer cells and sensory nerves has broader implications. Research suggests that this mechanism may be at play in other types of cancer as well. Wang and his team are exploring the potential role of these electrical circuits in a range of cancers, investigating whether similar strategies could be used to combat these devastating diseases.

this research highlights the importance of understanding the complex interplay between the nervous system and cancer. By unraveling these intricate connections, scientists hope to develop innovative treatments that can disrupt the cancer’s growth and spread, ultimately offering new hope for patients around the world.

What other surprising connections between cancer and the body’s systems do you think we may discover in the future?

Stomach Cancer: The Shocking Role of Electrical Connections

Unveiling a Direct Link: Electrical Interaction between Cancer and Nerves

In a groundbreaking study, Columbia University’s Silberberg Professor of medicine, Dr. timothy Wang, and his team have discovered a startling connection between stomach cancer and the nervous system. Archyde had the possibility to speak wiht dr. Wang about this remarkable finding.

Dr. Wang, could you walk us thru this discovery and its implications?

“Our research has shown that stomach cancer cells can communicate directly with nearby sensory nerves, effectively hijacking the body’s wiring to fuel their growth and spread. Outside of brain cancers, this direct electrical communication has never been observed before. It opens up new possibilities for treating stomach cancer by repurposing drugs designed for neurological conditions.”

A Rapid Communication Network: How Cancer Exploits Nerves

The findings shed light on a previously unknown mechanism by which tumors can rapidly communicate and manipulate their surrounding surroundings.

Could you explain why the role of nerves in the tumor microenvironment has only recently come under scrutiny?

“The focus has historically been on other cells and structures in the tumor microenvironment, such as blood vessels and immune cells. However, the nervous system works faster than any of these other cells, allowing tumors to more quickly communicate and remodel their surroundings to promote their growth and survival.”

Building an Electrical Circuit: How Stomach Cancer Hijacks Sensory Nerves

Wang’s team focused on sensory neurons, which display a strong reaction to the presence of stomach cancer. These neurons extend deep into tumors, attracted by a protein released by cancer cells called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).

How does the connection between tumor and neuron facilitate cancer growth?

“Once established, the connection allows the tumor to signal the neuron to release the peptide Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP), generating electrical signals within the tumor. It’s like a feed-forward loop that keeps stimulating the cancer and promoting its growth and spread.”

Targeting the Circuit: A New Avenue for Stomach Cancer Treatment

This electrical connection represents a potential new target for treating stomach cancer.

Could you tell us more about the potential of CGRP inhibitors in treating stomach cancer?

“We’ve seen promising results in preclinical studies with CGRP inhibitors, which are already used to treat migraines. When administered to mice with stomach cancer, these inhibitors reduced tumor size, increased survival, and prevented the spread of cancer. Based on our analysis of stomach cancer data from patients, we believe these circuits also exist in humans.”

Expanding the Horizon: beyond Stomach Cancer

While this study focused on stomach cancer, the discovery of communication between cancer cells and sensory nerves has broader implications.

What further research is needed to explore the potential role of these electrical circuits in other types of cancer?

“We’re currently investigating the potential role of these electrical circuits in a range of cancers.Our goal is to understand whether similar strategies could be used to combat these devastating diseases. By unraveling these intricate connections, we hope to develop innovative treatments that can disrupt the cancer’s growth and spread.”

What other surprising connections between cancer and the body’s systems do you think we may discover in the future?