The key to cancer treatment? The surprising role of the nervous system

A new scientific review raises the hypothesis that cancerous tumors may use the nervous system to spread, and asks whether psychedelic substances can interfere with this process. The researchers emphasize that this is only a preliminary hypothesis, and there is no evidence for such efficacy.

A new scientific review presents the hypothesis that cancerous tumors may 'learn' to use the nervous system to spread throughout the body. This finding raises the question of whether psychedelic substances, which affect the brain, can interfere with this process and fight the tumors themselves. The researchers emphasize that this is only a hypothesis, and the research is in its earliest stages. Alongside this, the review notes that controlled clinical studies have already proven that supervised treatment with psilocybin can reduce anxiety, depression, and existential distress among terminal patients. The new idea is based on a phenomenon called 'malignant synaptic plasticity,' in which glioma cancer cells integrate into neural networks. However, the review's authors warn that current evidence does not support the routine integration of psychedelics into cancer treatment, and that there are safety risks such as increases in blood pressure and risk of seizures.