Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40907474›Full record

ReviewNeuron2025

Novel approaches to clinical trial design in cancer neuroscience.

Gregory Jones, Jennifer L Anderson, Phuong T T Nguyen, Frederico O Gleber-Netto, William L Hwang, Vinay K Puduvalli, Michelle Monje, Moran Amit

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neuron, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Gregory JonesExperimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Jennifer L AndersonDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Phuong T T NguyenCenter for Systems Biology, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Frederico O Gleber-NettoDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
William L HwangCenter for Systems Biology, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Vinay K PuduvalliDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Cancer Neuroscience Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Michelle MonjeDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Moran AmitDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Cancer Neuroscience Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Genomic Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: mamit@mdanderson.org.

Funding

Harnessing the nervous system to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in oral cancerR01DE032018 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI Moran Amit, George A. Calin · 2022 to 2026
$3.5M
Defining the Role of Tumor-Neutral Crosstalk in head and Neck Cancer Progression and Treatment ResistanceR37CA242006 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI AMIT, MORAN · 2020 to 2025
$3.4M
NCI NIH HHS R37 CA242006NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE032018
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The emerging field of cancer neuroscience has revealed profound bidirectional interactions between the nervous system and cancer cells, identifying novel therapeutic vulnerabilities across diverse malignancies. This review examines the unique challenges and strategies for translating these insights into effective therapies. We propose innovative approaches to overcome these barriers through drug repurposing, enhanced biomarker development, and optimized trial designs. Repurposing neuroactive drugs with established safety profiles offers an accelerated path to clinical impact, particularly for targeting glutamatergic, adrenergic, and neurotrophic signaling pathways. Emphasizing mitigation of neurotoxicity and improved patient quality of life will be paramount moving forward. Repurposed agents that show preliminary potential for "dual use" (i.e., simultaneous toxicity mitigation and synergistic anti-tumor effects) are highlighted for special consideration. Master protocols and window-of-opportunity trials provide platforms to rapidly validate mechanisms while addressing patient-centered outcomes. By systematically addressing these foundational elements across disciplines, cancer neuroscience can translate its profound mechanistic insights into meaningful therapeutic advances for patients with treatment-resistant malignancies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsClinical Trials as TopicDrug RepositioningNeoplasmsNeurosciencesResearch DesignAnimalsHumansAntineoplastic Agents

Identifiers

PMID40907474
PMCPMC12435926

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.