David Gutmann – Cancer Neuroscience and the Sociobiology of Brain Tumors

Brain tumor cells interact with neurons, glial cells, and immune cells in complex ways that often benefit the cancer cells while compromising the function of normal neural cells. In this episode I talk with Washington University Neurology Professor David Gutmann about brain cancer cells and their communication with surrounding normal cells. A major component of Dr. Gutmann's research program focuses on Neurofibromatosis a rare genetic disorder that causes non-malignant brain tumors as well as abnormal growth of cells in other organ systems. The disease results from loss-of-function mutations in the NF1 protein which normally functions to constrain cell growth. Discoveries concerning the 'sociobiology' of brain tumors is providing a foundation for the development of new approaches for treating a range of cancers. LINKS Dr. Gutmann's Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_H._Gutmann Related articles: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10107403/pdf/nihms-1872327.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9883043/pdf/nihms-1861630.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11972679/pdf/djae249.pdf