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Sensory nerves unlock the TOLL-7 gate for cancer spread

R K Subbarao Malireddi1, Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti1

  • 1Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.

Trends in Immunology
|September 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Cancers exploit nerve cells to grow and spread. Disrupting this communication by targeting sensory neuron activation and substance P (SP) release may block cancer metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cancers utilize neural pathways for progression and metastasis.
  • Interfering with neuron-cancer interactions presents a potential anti-metastasis strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for blocking cancer metastasis.
  • To elucidate the role of sensory neurons and substance P in cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the activation of sensory neurons by breast cancer cells.
  • Analyzed the release of neuropeptide substance P (SP) and its downstream effects.
  • Examined the role of single-strand RNA (ssRNA) and Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signaling in metastasis.

Main Results:

  • Breast cancer cells activate sensory neurons, inducing the secretion of substance P (SP).
  • This process leads to the release of single-strand RNA (ssRNA).
  • The released ssRNA activates noncanonical Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signaling, promoting metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Neuron-cancer crosstalk, specifically through SP and TLR7 signaling, is a key driver of metastasis.
  • Targeting this pathway offers a promising therapeutic approach to inhibit cancer spread.
Keywords:
TACR1TLR7apoptosisaprepitantbreast cancerssRNAsubstance P

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