(Press-News.org)
Chinese researchers recently revealed new insights on the growth of craniopharyngioma and identified a potential therapeutic treatment.
Their findings were published online in Science Translational Medicine on December 19.
Craniopharyngioma, a benign yet highly invasive tumor occurring along the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, presents a unique clinical challenge. Although nonmalignant, its proximity to critical brain structures often leads to severe endocrine and metabolic complications. The tumor can invade the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, resulting in endocrine dysfunction and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, diabetes insipidus. In severe cases, it can cause life-threatening conditions. Currently, surgical resection remains the primary treatment option; however, this approach carries high risks, including the risk of recurrence and significant postoperative complications.
To tackle these challenges, a team led by Professor WU Qingfeng from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, and Beijing Children's Hospital, adopted a multi-pronged approach to explore craniopharyngioma growth and also identified a promising treatment option.
In 2021, Professor WU identified the cellular origins of papillary craniopharyngioma. Building on this achievement, he and his team developed two sophisticated animal models that faithfully recapitulate the imageological, histological, phenomic, and transcriptomic characteristics of human craniopharyngioma. These models successfully mimic the pathological progression observed in patients, providing an invaluable platform for studying tumorigenic mechanisms and developing therapeutic interventions.
While bulk, single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses revealed an enriched transcriptional program related to synaptic transmission in the mouse tumors, their immunostaining and electron microscopic results further demonstrated synaptic contacts between hypothalamic neurons and tumor cells. Using chemogenetic techniques, the researchers modulated the activity of hypothalamic neuroendocrine neurons in their animal models. They found that enhanced neuronal activity accelerated tumor growth, while reduced activity inhibited it.
These findings highlight the remarkable adaptability of craniopharyngiomas, which hijack hypothalamic neurons and leverage neurotransmitters to enhance their growth and aggressiveness. This work not only deepens our understanding of neuron-to-tumor interactions but also underscores the potential of disrupting neuron-tumor crosstalk as a viable therapeutic strategy.
Using their animal models, the researchers established craniopharyngioma cell lines and screened over 3,000 compounds for their potential antitumor effects. Among the 74 top hits, one stood out: amlodipine besylate, a calcium channel blocker commonly prescribed for hypertension. Surprisingly, this routine medication showed potent antitumor effects in preclinical animal models.
Amlodipine’s established safety profile and widespread use as a cardiovascular drug make it a prime candidate for repurposing. Its efficacy lies in its ability to inhibit calcium signaling pathways in tumor cells. By blocking calcium transients, amlodipine effectively disrupts the chemical synaptic transmission between hypothalamic neurons and tumor cells.
Craniopharyngioma has long been a daunting challenge for neurosurgeons and endocrinologists alike. Understanding this complex tumor’s growth mechanism and identifying a potentially effective, non-invasive medication to treat it mark a significant step forward.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide safer and more effective treatment options for patients,” Professor WU said. “This research represents a beacon of hope for improving their quality of life. However, further clinical trials are required to validate the efficacy of amlodipine besylate in patients. ”
END
Massive volcanic eruptions on the Indian peninsula have long been proposed as an alternative cause for the demise of the dinosaurs. This phase of active volcanism took place in a period just before the Earth was struck by a meteorite, 66 million years ago. The effect of these volcanic eruptions on the Earth’s climate has been topic of fierce scientific debates for decades. Now, climate scientists from Utrecht University and the University of Manchester show that, while the volcanism caused a temporary cold period, the effects had already worn off thousands of years before the meteorite impacted. The scientists therefore conclude that the meteorite impact was the ...
A common over-the-counter ingredient in many cough syrups may have a greater purpose for people suffering from lung fibrosis that is related to any number of serious health conditions.
Scientists from EMBL Heidelberg were part of a collaborative effort to discover an effective treatment for lung fibrosis and found that the best candidate may be one that is already available as a cough medicine around the world, dextromethorphan. The study was recently published in Science Translational Medicine and showed how dextromethorphan can impede ...
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shown that a systemic approach to eliminating inefficiencies in surgical residency programs can reduce unnecessary work hours in the general residency program at UC San Diego. The approach—based on Lean methodology—can also positively impact the training and overall well-being of surgery residents. The results are published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
“Our study shows ...
Research from Radboud university medical center shows that the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on people's immune response to microorganisms. During the lockdown, inflammation level in the body was low, but afterwards, the immune system reacted more intensely to viruses and bacteria. The results are now published in Frontiers of Immunology.
In this study, the researchers examined the effects of various health measures introduced during the pandemic, such as lockdowns and vaccinations. The study was conducted in a large cohort of people living with HIV, as well as in healthy individuals. The researchers ...
HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.
Smoking cessation medications are safe and effective for people with depression
Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) are more likely to smoke, leading to higher risks of nicotine addiction and early death from tobacco-related illnesses. To identify the best treatments for quitting, researchers led by George ...
Scientists have spotted a massive black hole in the early universe that is ‘napping’ after stuffing itself with too much food.
Like a bear gorging itself on salmon before hibernating for the winter, or a much-needed nap after Christmas dinner, this black hole has overeaten to the point that it is lying dormant in its host galaxy.
An international team of astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to detect this black hole in the early universe, just 800 million years after the Big Bang.
The black hole is huge – ...
Much like plants in a thriving forest, certain cells in the brain create a nurturing environment, enhancing the health and resilience of their neighbors, while others promote stress and damage, akin to a noxious weed in an ecosystem.
A new study published in Nature on December 18, 2024, reveals these interactions playing out across the lifespan. It suggests local cellular interactions may profoundly influence brain aging — and offers fresh insights into how we might slow or even reverse the process.
“What was exciting to us was finding that some cells have a pro-aging effect on neighboring cells while others appear to have a rejuvenating effect on their neighbors,” ...
The electronics industry is approaching a limit to the number of transistors that can be packed onto the surface of a computer chip. So, chip manufacturers are looking to build up rather than out.
Instead of squeezing ever-smaller transistors onto a single surface, the industry is aiming to stack multiple surfaces of transistors and semiconducting elements — akin to turning a ranch house into a high-rise. Such multilayered chips could handle exponentially more data and carry out many more complex functions than today’s electronics.
A significant hurdle, however, is the platform on which chips are built. Today, bulky ...
MIT physicists have created a new and long-lasting magnetic state in a material, using only light.
In a study that will appear in Nature, the researchers report using a terahertz laser — a light source that oscillates more than a trillion times per second — to directly stimulate atoms in an antiferromagnetic material. The laser’s oscillations are tuned to the natural vibrations among the material’s atoms, in a way that shifts the balance of atomic spins toward a new magnetic state.
The results provide a new way to control and switch antiferromagnetic materials, which are of interest for their potential ...
About The Study: Compared with 2000-2022, the number of union petitions with physicians in the bargaining units filed and certified increased in 2023 through May 2024. Organizing efforts were motivated by concerns about working conditions, physicians’ autonomy, and voice in management, and the quality of patient care.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Kevin Schulman, MD, email kevin.schulman@stanford.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at ...
