The Future of Everything The future of cancer neuroscience
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Aug 15, 2025 
Dr. Michelle Monje, a pediatric neurology expert at Stanford, dives into the fascinating links between childhood brain cancer and the nervous system. She reveals how cancer cells integrate electrically with brain cells, fueling their growth. Her groundbreaking research includes a promising immunotherapy that has led to a patient being cancer-free for four years. The discussion also touches on the challenges of treating aggressive gliomas and innovative CAR-T cell therapies that may enhance patient outcomes.
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Clinical Observation Sparked The Research
- As a trainee, Monje noticed brain cancers often appeared in very capable, creative patients.
- This clinical pattern sparked her inquiry into how healthy neural mechanisms might feed tumors.
Brain Activity Drives Tumor Growth
- Gliomas often infiltrate large brain regions while leaving function relatively intact.
- Monje's experiments showed that increasing neuronal activity drives faster tumor growth.
Don't Suppress Brain Activity As Treatment
- Do not try to reduce overall brain activity as a therapy; it harms patients.
- Target the cancer's ability to hijack neural signals instead of suppressing normal brain function.