Neuronal regulation of anti-tumor immunity

Epidemiological studies reveal a connection between the patient’s mental state and cancer survival. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Our group studies how specific brain activity affects tumor growth and specifically, anti-tumor immunity. We found that in tumor-bearing mice (Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16 melanoma) activation of the brain’s reward system, a key circuitry in emotional processes attenuated tumor growth. This effect was mediated via the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), resulting in an attenuated noradrenergic input to a major immunological site, the bone marrow. Moreover, solid tumors develop in innervated tissues, and neurons invade the growing tumor itself. Thus, understanding how these local neuronal innervations affect the local anti-tumor immune response is expected to reveal potential new therapeutic avenues for immunotherapy. In this talk, I will discuss our findings with targeted brain manipulations as well as an optogenetic manipulation of neurons innervating the tumor site.