A nerve cell (stained green) growing among a cancer cell culture
Simon Grelet and Gustavo Ayala
A groundbreaking discovery has revealed that cancer cells have the ability to hijack energy-producing components from nerve cells in order to fuel their spread to distant locations within the body. This finding could potentially revolutionize the way we approach treatments for the most aggressive and lethal types of cancer.
Leading researcher Elizabeth Repasky from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, describes this as a significant advancement in the field of cancer neuroscience, highlighting the intricate relationship between nerve cells and cancer progression.
Studies have shown that neurons present in and around tumours play a crucial role in facilitating the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Simon Grelet from the University of South Alabama explains that previous research demonstrated cancer cells’ ability to acquire mitochondria from non-neuronal brain cells. However, the direct transfer of mitochondria from nerve cells to cancer cells was previously unknown.
In a groundbreaking experiment, Grelet and his team engineered breast cancer cells to contain a red fluorescent marker and co-cultured them with mouse nerve cells labeled with green pigment. Through live imaging, they observed cancer cells actively stealing mitochondria from nerve cells within a short timeframe.
The researchers further validated their findings by injecting red breast cancer cells into mice to form tumours and genetically modifying the surrounding nerves to carry green mitochondria. Results showed that a significant proportion of cancer cells within tumours and those that had spread to the brain had acquired mitochondria from nerve cells, indicating a clear advantage in terms of metastatic potential.
Additional experiments revealed that cancer cells with stolen mitochondria exhibited enhanced resilience to physical and chemical stresses encountered during metastasis, suggesting a survival advantage in navigating through the complex journey of spreading to other parts of the body.
Analysis of human breast cancer and prostate tumour samples provided further evidence of this phenomenon, with cancer cells closer to nerves containing a higher concentration of mitochondria compared to those located further away. This universal mechanism of mitochondrial transfer could potentially be targeted to impede the spread of aggressive tumours.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to develop targeted therapies that disrupt mitochondrial transfer as a strategy to curb the metastatic progression of deadly cancers. The implications of this study could pave the way for innovative treatment approaches that target the intricate interactions between nerve cells and cancer cells, offering new hope in the fight against advanced and treatment-resistant tumours.
