Neurotransmitters Hold Key to Boosting Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Scientists at the University of Mons have discovered that the neurotransmitters glutamate, dopamine, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone II (GnRH-II) can significantly enhance the ability of T cells to combat cancer. In head and neck cancer patients, the immune system's T cells are often suppressed, making it difficult for the body to fight the disease. However, the researchers found that these neurotransmitters can restore the functionality of T cells, allowing them to migrate towards cancer cells and destroy them more effectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • The neurotransmitters glutamate, dopamine, and GnRH-II can increase the spontaneous migration of T cells in head and neck cancer patients by up to 4.4 times.
  • These neurotransmitters can also enhance the chemotactic migration of T cells towards the key chemokine SDF-1 by up to 2.3 times.
  • Glutamate, dopamine, and GnRH-II can increase the cell surface CD3zeta expression of T cells in head and neck cancer patients by up to 4.3 times.
  • The researchers propose a new form of treatment, dubbed "Neuroimmunotherapy," which involves using these neurotransmitters to activate T cells.
  • The "rejuvenated" T cells are expected to have significantly improved abilities to reach and eradicate cancer cells.
  • The treatment is expected to be very safe due to the autologous nature of the T cells and the short ex vivo "parking period."

Statistics:

  • 5-year survival rate for head and neck cancer patients is below 50%.
  • Two-thirds of head and neck cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced clinical stage.
  • Most head and neck cancer patients have multiple severe immunological defects, especially in their T cells.
  • T cells of cancer patients are often unable to migrate properly towards the tumor.
  • CD3zeta and CD3epsilon expression is low in T cells of patients with head and neck cancer, which correlates with poor prognosis.

Sources:

  • S. Saussez, B. Laumbacher, G. Chantrain, A. Rodriguez, S. Gu, R. Wank, and M. Levite (2014). Towards neuroimmunotherapy for cancer: the neurotransmitters glutamate, dopamine and GnRH-II augment substantially the ability of T cells of few head and neck cancer patients to perform spontaneous migration, chemotactic migration and migration towards the tumor. Journal of Neural Transmission, 121(8), 1007-1027. (Springer)