University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine, along with other collaborators, report that lung adenocarcinoma can engage nerve pathways that link the lung to the brainstem and back to the tumor environment, shaping local anti-tumor immune activity. Solid tumors receive input from multiple branches of the peripheral nervous system, and higher tumor innervation has been linked with poorer cancer outcomes. Vagal nerves connect visceral organs with the brain, and distinct vagal sensory neuron subtypes respond to pulmonary signals and can influence immune responses in other lung conditions.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
