Tackling Lung Cancer Brain Metastasis by Targeting Muscarinic Signaling

Led by Dr. Anand Krishnan
University of Saskatchewan

Metastatic lung cancer is lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain or bones. About half of people with advanced lung cancer develop metastases to the brain, which can have devastating impacts on survival, treatment options, and quality of life.

Treating brain metastases is especially difficult because many therapies cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier. However, if researchers can better understand why some lung cancers spread to the brain, there may be opportunities to identify risk earlier and develop more targeted treatment options.

Dr. Krishnan’s research team recently found that CHRM1, a protein receptor involved in nerve signaling, is overactive in lung tumours from patients who developed brain metastases compared to those who did not. The team also found that activation of CHRM1 and the related CHRM3 protein may contribute to aggressive lung cancer cell growth.

This project will use animal models to investigate whether therapies that target CHRM proteins can help suppress brain metastasis in lung cancer. The team will also study lung cancer patient samples to determine whether CHRM1 levels can help predict the risk of brain metastasis.

The goal of this research is to identify potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets that could improve outcomes for people living with advanced lung cancer.