Australian scientists have identified a previously insufficiently studied, hidden cause of gastrointestinal cancer. According to BMJ Oncology journal, nerve fibers in the human gastrointestinal tract can directly affect tumor development.
Scientists at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Troba University concluded that a neuropeptide called CGRP and its RAMP1 receptor activates cancer cell growth.
Dr. Pavita Paratan, who conducted the study, noted that the nerve fibers inside the tumor produce the substance CGRP, stimulating the growth process. It has also been found that cancer cells can also release this substance independently. This shows the biological connection between the nervous system and cancer cells.
According to experts, there are already medications to stop this process. They are drugs that block CGRP and RAMP1 receptors and are currently used in the treatment of migraine. The approval of such drugs allows them to be adapted for cancer therapy.
Genetic tests have shown that if the RAMP1 receptor is removed from tumor cells, their growth capacity sharply decreases.
The head of the study, Dr. Lisa Milke, noted that this area opens up new prospects in oncology. In the future, scientists plan to test anti-migraine drugs in clinical trials along with methods of treating colorectal cancer.
We remind you that, according to the World Health Organization, 40% of the world's population, that is, more than 3 billion people, live under the influence of various neurological diseases. Scientists emphasize that this research will open a new path to understanding the deep connection between the nervous system and cancer.
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