Migraine Drugs Could Provide New Treatment for Gastrointestinal Cancers
Australian researchers found that a neuropeptide fueled tumor growth in vitro, but deletion of its receptor halted the process. Originally published by Rebecca Roberts, PhD , on Oct 24, 2025, in The Nutshell section of The Scientist Existing drugs can be repurposed for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors , blocking the interaction between a neuropeptide and its receptor. Image credit:©iStock, sefa ozel Often referred to as the ‘ second brain ,’ the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is full of nerves that help it to function by secreting neuropeptides . A growing body of evidence suggests that GI tumors can hijack these networks of nerves , using them to survive, grow, and metastasize. 1–3 Now, researchers from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) have reported how a specific neuropeptide called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its receptor, c ontribute to poor clinical outcomes in GI cancer patients. Published ...