1572-Targeting 5-HT2AR to Enhance Colorectal Cancer Immunity

This research article describes the discovery of a gut-immune axis that can be leveraged to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). Scientists found that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) slows tumor growth by activating 5-HT2AR receptors, though its use is limited by its hallucinogenic properties. To address this, the researchers developed IHCH-8110, a specialized non-brain-penetrant agonist that targets these receptors in the peripheral nervous system without affecting the brain. This compound activates enteric glial cells, which then release signaling proteins that recruit and empower CD8+ T cells to attack the cancer. Crucially, this treatment successfully converts "immune-cold" tumors into responsive ones, significantly boosting the effectiveness of existing PD-1 blockade immunotherapies. This breakthrough offers a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with treatment-resistant cancer by utilizing the enteric nervous system to drive antitumor immunity.References:Wen Y T, Tang L J, Duan W W, et al. Targeting peripheral 5-HT2AR enhances antitumor immunity in colorectal cancer[J]. Cell, 2026.前往小宇宙评论区与主播互动