Neuroscientists Uncover Role of Sensory Neurons in Cancer Progression and Treatment
Recent research has highlighted the significant role of sensory neurons in cancer progression, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The study, led by Zhang and colleagues, found that sensory neurons secrete calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which alters the tumor microenvironment (TME) by promoting immune exclusion and fibrosis. This discovery underscores the importance of tumor innervation in cancer biology and suggests that targeting these neuronal influences could enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies. The research utilized spatial transcriptomics and machine learning to identify the correlation between poor clinical outcomes and high perineural invasion in TNBC patients. The study also demonstrated that inhibiting the receptor RAMP1, which interacts with CGRP, can reduce fibrosis and improve immune infiltration, potentially enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. 
