Could the nervous system be helping cancer grow? Research in #cancer #neuroscience is revealing a surprising two-way communication between neurons and cancer cells that is changing how we understand tumor growth and opening new possibilities for treatment.

In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Prof. Frank Winkler about how cancer cells hijack the brain's communication networks, why #glioblastoma is one of the most challenging brain tumors to treat, and how discoveries at the intersection of neuroscience and #oncology could inspire a new generation of cancer therapies.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What cancer neuroscience is and why it matters
• How neurons communicate directly with cancer cells
• Why glioblastoma is so aggressive and therapy-resistant
• How tumors hijack neural circuits to support their growth
• The role of stress, sleep, and lifestyle in cancer research
• What the future of neuroscience-inspired cancer therapies could look like

About our guest:

Prof. Frank Winkler is Professor of Neuro-Oncology at Heidelberg University Faculty of Medicine and Managing Senior Physician in the Department of Neurology. His pioneering discoveries of direct communication between neurons and cancer cells helped establish the field of cancer neuroscience. In 2025, he was awarded the #BrainPrize for his groundbreaking contributions to the field.

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#CancerNeuroscience #Glioblastoma #BrainCancer #Neuroscience #CancerResearch #NeuroOncology #BrainScience

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen