Functional synapses between neurons and small cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACT: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive type of lung cancer, characterized by rapid proliferation, early metastatic spread, frequent early relapse and a high mortality rate^1-3. Recent evidence has suggested that innervation has an important role in the development and progression of several types of cancer^4,5. Cancer-to-neuron synapses have been reported in gliomas^6,7, but whether peripheral tumours can form such structures is unknown. Here we show that SCLC cells can form functional synapses and receive synaptic transmission. Using in vivo insertional mutagenesis screening in conjunction with cross-species genomic and transcriptomic validation, we identified neuronal, synaptic and glutamatergic signalling gene sets in mouse and human SCLC. Fur

SUBMITTER: Sakthivelu V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571904 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature