# Neuro-Immune Interaction in Cancer Development

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2022 · $197,277

## Abstract

While the presence of nerves in solid tumors has been observed for hundreds of years, investigation of the 
impact of these nerves on tumor growth has only been initiated in the last 10 years. The bulk of this work has 
focused on the impact of neurotransmitters on tumor cell growth and metastasis, however immune cells also 
express receptors for a wide variety of neurotransmitters, which can have immune-activating and immuneinhibiting 
properties. In preliminary studies using a murine breast cancer model, we have found that the 
presence of sensory nerves is necessary for tumor inhibition by the adaptive immune system. Furthermore, 
blockade of a specific neurotransmitter produced by sensory nerves, calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) 
inhibited tumor growth and improved T cell infiltration into tumors, suggesting both pro- and anti-tumor 
activities for sensory nerves in breast cancer. In this project, we will decipher how sensory nerves promote 
adaptive immune responses to tumors. We will also investigate the mechanism by which CGRP inhibition 
improves tumor control, and whether this treatment can synergize with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Finally, we 
will evaluate whether presence of sensory nerves, adrenergic nerves, or specific neurotransmitters including 
CGRP correlate with immune infiltration and response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Overall 
these studies will provide critical information on a potentially novel immunotherapeutic pathway that can be 
modulated in patients to promote tumor control.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10686625
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103639-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Maureen Cox
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $197,277
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10686625

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10686625, Neuro-Immune Interaction in Cancer Development (5P20GM103639-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10686625. Licensed CC0.

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