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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered another way glioblastoma manipulates the surrounding brain to promote its growth. The study, published in Neuron, found that GBM disrupts the brain's natural system for calming electrical activity. Researchers identified GAT-1, a protein that helps regulate GABA, the chemical messenger responsible for much of this calming effect. They found that removing GAT-1 from tumor cells accelerated tumor growth, while activating inhibitory neurons around tumors slowed growth in animal models. The researchers also found that two FDA-approved medications, lorazepam and valproic acid, which enhance GABA-related activity, reduced tumor growth in mice.
These findings add an interesting dimension to research we previously reported from the University of Miami. That study found that GABA can have the opposite effect in certain immune cells, activating MDSCs that suppress the body's ability to attack the tumor. This effect was particularly pronounced in female models. Together, the studies suggest that GABA signaling can be beneficial in some cells but harmful in others: restoring its calming effects in neurons may help slow tumor growth, while blocking its effects on immune-suppressive cells may help restore anti-tumor immunity. Both studies are preclinical, and more research is needed to determine whether these strategies can benefit patients.