bims-netuvo Biomed News
on Nerves in tumours of visceral organs
Issue of 2025–07–27
five papers selected by
Maksym V. Kopanitsa, Charles River Laboratories



  1. PLoS Biol. 2025 Jul;23(7): e3003266
      Interactions between the peripheral nervous system and solid tumors influence cancer progression and treatment response. Defining the 3D tumor neural niche using spatial omics and AI technologies will identify new opportunities for targeted therapies to stop cancer progression.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003266
  2. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2025 Jul 21.
       INTRODUCTION: Cancer progression is increasingly understood to be influenced by neural mechanisms, including neurotransmitter signaling, neurotrophic factor activity, neuroinflammation, and neurogenic inflammation. These neurobiological interactions contribute to tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Kinase inhibitors, a class of targeted therapies that block dysregulated kinase activity, have demonstrated promise not only in direct tumor suppression but also in modulating neural pathways associated with cancer progression.
    METHODS: This review examines the role of kinase inhibitors in modulating cancer-associated neural mechanisms. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies exploring the effects of kinase inhibition on: (1) neurotransmitter signaling pathways; (2) neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); (3) neuroinflammation through glial cell modulation; and (4) neurogenic inflammation. Additionally, we assessed the impact of kinase inhibitors on tumor-induced axonogenesis and stress-related signaling. Clinical relevance was evaluated through analysis of preclinical models, human case studies, and outcomes from relevant clinical trials.
    RESULTS: Kinase inhibitors were found to significantly modulate neural factors that facilitate tumor growth. Specifically, they can suppress neurotrophic signaling (e.g., NGF/TrkA, BDNF/TrkB), inhibit glial activation, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and block neurotransmitter-induced proliferation. Inhibition of stress-responsive kinases such as p38 MAPK and JNK also disrupted tumor-associated axonogenesis and inflammation. Clinical trials demonstrate improved outcomes in cancers such as glioblastoma, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer when kinase inhibitors are employed with consideration of neural mechanisms.
    DISCUSSION: These findings support the emerging concept of targeting the neural tumor microenvironment as a therapeutic strategy. Kinase inhibitors represent a dual-action approach, suppressing both cancer cell intrinsic growth pathways and the neural factors that sustain them. However, several challenges persist, including resistance mechanisms, variability in patient neural profiles, and off-target effects. Future research should focus on the development of neural-specific kinase inhibitors, the use of neural biomarkers for therapy selection, and the integration of neuro-oncology into personalized treatment plans.
    CONCLUSION: Kinase inhibitors offer a promising frontier in cancer treatment by targeting neural mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression. While current evidence is encouraging, further investigation is required to optimize their use within neuro-oncology. Personalized approaches and novel targets within the neural-cancer axis will be essential for translating this strategy into clinical practice and improving long-term patient outcomes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2174/0118715206387712250711132221
  3. Med Clin (Barc). 2025 Jul 17. pii: S0025-7753(25)00352-5. [Epub ahead of print]165(4): 107124
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medcli.2025.107124
  4. Cancer Cell. 2025 Jul 17. pii: S1535-6108(25)00270-3. [Epub ahead of print]
      Nerves are integral to tumor biology, yet the peri- and intra-neural microenvironment and their roles in cancer-neural invasion (NI) remain underexplored. Here, we perform single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics on 62 samples from 25 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, mapping cellular composition, lineage dynamics, and spatial organization across varying NI statuses. Tertiary lymphoid structures are abundant in low-NI tumor tissues and co-localize with non-invaded nerves, while NLRP3+ macrophages and cancer-associated myofibroblasts surround invaded nerves in high-NI tissues. We identify a unique endoneurial NRP2+ fibroblast population and characterize three distinct Schwann cell subsets. TGFBI+ Schwann cells locate at the leading edge of NI, can be induced by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling, promote tumor cell migration, and correlate with poor survival. We also identify basal-like and neural-reactive malignant subpopulations with distinct morphologies and heightened NI potential. This landscape depicting tumor-associated nerves highlights critical cancer-immune-neural interactions in situ and enlightens treatment development targeting NI.
    Keywords:  NI; PDAC; Schwann cells; TLSs; TME; endoneurial fibroblast; neural invasion; neuro-immuno-oncology; pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; single-cell RNA sequenceing; spatial transcriptomics; tertiary lymphoid structures; tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated nerves
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2025.06.020