Radical Tumor Denervation Activates Potent Local and Global Cancer Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• The neuro-tumoral interaction is increasingly recognized as a factor in cancer progression.
• Targeting nerve supply to tumors may offer a novel therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of R&P denervation on aggressive breast tumor growth and survival in immunocompetent rats.
• To evaluate a microsurgical technique for inducing denervation and its impact on primary and metastatic tumors.

Main Methods:

• A novel microsurgical approach was used to isolate and re-vascularize orthotopic breast tumors in rats, effectively denervating them.
• Tumor growth, regression, and survival were monitored in rats with single or multiple tumors, with only one tumor treated in multi-tumor models.
• Control groups underwent similar surgery but maintained neurovascular connections.

Main Results:

• Microsurgical denervation resulted in complete primary tumor regression in all treated subjects.
• A potent systemic anticancer effect and prolonged survival were observed following R&P denervation.
• In multi-tumor models, treatment of one tumor led to regression of both the treated and untreated remote tumors, indicating a systemic effect.

Conclusions:

• R&P denervation via microsurgical auto-transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for inducing regression of primary and metastatic breast tumors.
• Abrogating the neuro-tumoral interaction represents a novel and potentially effective alternative cancer treatment approach.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings in human patients.