641-A Brain–Gut Circuit Hijacked by Colorectal Cancer cells

This research identifies a direct communication link between the brain and colorectal cancer (CRC) called the septo-enteric circuit. Scientists discovered that GABAergic neurons in the lateral septum—a brain region tied to emotion—connect through a multi-step pathway to cholinergic neurons in the gut. These nerve fibers are hijacked by tumor cells, which use the resulting release of the neurotransmitter GABA to accelerate their own growth. Experimental evidence shows that psychological stress triggers this circuit, significantly increasing tumor size in mice. Conversely, inhibiting this pathway using genetic or light-based techniques effectively stalls cancer progression. Clinical observations in humans confirm that higher activity in this specific brain region correlates with more aggressive primary tumors.References: Li Y, Yu H, Li Z M, et al. Colorectal cancer cells hijack a brain–gut polysynaptic circuit from the lateral septum to enteric neurons to sustain tumor growth[J]. Nature Cancer, 2025, 6(11): 1800-1820.前往小宇宙评论区与主播互动