Tumour–brain crosstalk restrains cancer immunity via a sensory–sympathetic axis

Abstract Body–brain communication has emerged as a key regulator of tissue homeostasis 1–5 . Solid tumours are innervated by different branches of the peripheral nervous system and increased tumour innervation is associated with poor cancer outcomes 6–8 . However, it remains unclear how the brain senses and responds to tumours in peripheral organs, and how tumour–brain communication influences cancer immunity. Here we identify a tumour–brain axis that promotes oncogenesis by establishing an immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment. Combining genetically engineered mouse models with neural tracing, tissue imaging and single-cell transcriptomics, we demonstrate that lung adenocarcinoma induces innervation and…

• DR
  Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• UO
  University of Pennsylvania
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NC
  National Cancer Institute
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• NC
  National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• ND
  NHLBI Division of Intramural Research