IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Tumor-innervating nociceptors drive immuno-suppressive monocyte differentiation to prevent T cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity

Tumor-innervating nociceptors drive immuno-suppressive monocyte differentiation to prevent T cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity

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Video Summary

The speaker described how nociceptor neurons can promote bladder tumor growth by reprogramming incoming monocytes into immunosuppressive MDSC-like cells. Analysis of TCGA data highlighted bladder cancer as strongly associated with poor survival when neurotrophic factors are high. In mice, nociceptor ablation or silencing prevented tumor establishment, but only when done early; established tumors were unaffected. The effect depended on adaptive immunity and monocytes, not T cells alone. Co-culture experiments showed nociceptors drive monocytes toward an immunosuppressive phenotype. CGRP was not involved, and the precise molecular mechanism remains unknown.

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Date April 18, 2026 9:54 AM - 10:09 AM

Room 253

Session Major Symposium E: Neuroimmune Landscapes Across the Body: Circuitry and Cytokines

Speaker Pavel Hanc

Track Neuroimmunology (NEUR)

Year 2026

Keywords

nociceptor neurons

bladder cancer

monocyte reprogramming

immunosuppressive MDSC-like cells

tumor growth

April 18, 2026 9:54 AM - 10:09 AM

253

Major Symposium E: Neuroimmune Landscapes Across the Body: Circuitry and Cytokines

Pavel Hanc

Neuroimmunology (NEUR)

2026