Ghrelin-induced neuronal NPY promotes brain metastasis in lung cancer patients with low BMI.

ABSTRACT: Obesity is a known risk factor for many cancers, yet recent studies reveal a paradoxical association between low body mass index (BMI) and increased brain metastasis in lung cancer-referred to as the "obesity paradox," with unclear molecular mechanism(s). Here, we show a significantly higher incidence of brain metastasis in low-BMI lung cancer patients compared to those with high-BMI or other cancer brain metastasis in a pan-analysis of 7628 patients. Mechanistically, low BMI activates ghrelin-GHSR signaling, increasing neuronal neuropeptide Y (NPY) secretion, which promotes tumor metabolic reprogramming via NPY-Y5R, facilitating brain colonization. Elevated plasma ghrelin levels in cancer-free low-BMI subjects suggest its potential as a prognostic biomarker for predicting brain metastasis

SUBMITTER: Tyagi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12218320 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature