Nicotine's role in brain tumor growth and spread
Official title: Nicotine promotes perineural brain metastasis by activating GABAergic neurons
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-10814887 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how nicotine might influence the growth of brain tumors in people with lung cancer, hoping to find new ways to treat these tumors by understanding how nicotine affects brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $109,014 |
| NIH project number | 5K99CA276895-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10814887 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with lung cancer who have developed brain metastasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with brain tumors not related to lung cancer or those without a history of nicotine exposure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how nicotine affects the growth and spread of brain tumors, particularly in patients with lung cancer. It aims to understand the mechanisms by which nicotine activates certain brain neurons, potentially leading to increased tumor progression. The study will explore the relationship between nicotine, brain microenvironment changes, and the formation of synapses that may support tumor growth. By identifying these pathways, the research seeks to develop new treatment strategies for brain metastasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies that significantly improve outcomes for patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms being studied may be novel, previous research has indicated that targeting neuronal pathways can influence tumor behavior, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Shih-Ying — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wu, Shih-Ying
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.