Botox could be used to effectively treat gastric cancer by eliminating the signals sent by nerves linked to cancer stem cells.
The method could be a "cheap, safe, and efficient cancer treatment alternative, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology reported. The method has already been tested on mice and will soon begin human trials.
In the past researchers have shown the vagal nerve contributes to the growth of gastric tumors, so blocking nerve signals to the tumor will stop its growth.
"This study shows that nerves control cancer stem cells," said NTNU Professor Duan Chen and Columbia Professor Timothy Wang, the co-corresponding authors of the study. "We found that by removing the effect of the nerve, the stem cells in the cancer tumor are suppressed, leading to cancer treatment and prevention."
The researchers found the nerves promote tumor growth through a neurotransmitter. The team tried out four different methods of cutting the nerves to the tumor: surgically; through local Botox injections to block the release of the neurotransmitter; through blocking the receptor with a drug; and through removing the receptor gene. All four methods proved to suppress tumor growth. Botox is usually used to reduce facial wrinkles
"But we found that the anti-cancer effects were remarkable, especially with local vagotomy or by injecting Botox. It actually surprised us. The finding that Botox was highly effective was particularly exciting," Chen said. "We believe this treatment is a good treatment because it can be used locally and it targets the cancer stem cells. The Botox can be injected through gastroscopy and it only requires the patient to stay in the hospital for a few hours."
The procedure is also believed to be less toxic than most other standard cancer treatments as well as less expensive.
"However, for most patients, we are suggesting that denervation works best in combination with traditional chemotherapy, since loss of nervous input appears to make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy, which makes the chemotherapy more efficient as well," said Columbia Professor Timothy Wang.
The study was published recently in Science Translational Medicine.
