Research links stroke to increased brain tumor risk and cancer-related clotting

New research highlights the complex biological links between strokes and cancer progression. A study published in ‘Nature Cancer’ by researchers from the Duncan Neurological Research Institute and Baylor College of Medicine suggests that a stroke can facilitate the growth and infiltration of gliomas. The study found that strokes alter the tumor environment, specifically involving astrocytes with weakened calcium signaling and an accumulation of microglia and macrophages, which leads to increased tumor infiltration and shorter survival rates in models.

Separately, a review in the ‘Journal of Neurology’ examines the relationship between cancer and stroke through the lens of cancer-associated coagulopathy (CAC). This condition involves excessive blood clotting that can lead to arterial and cerebral clots. The risk of such strokes is highest within the first year of a cancer diagnosis, particularly with adenocarcinomas like lung and pancreatic cancer. Mechanisms include inflammation, platelet activation, and the release of substances like mucin by cancer cells, which can trigger microclots that block blood vessels.