{
  "abstract": "Sex differences in cancers arising in non-reproductive organs are widespread. While sex hormones and the intrinsic sexual identity of cancer cells are well-established contributors, it is unknown whether other mechanisms are involved. Here, we reveal an unexpected source of sex-biased cancer vulnerability in a Drosophila model of tumorigenesis. By combining genetically induced tumours with tissue- and cell type-specific sex reversals, we show that sex differences in oncogenesis can arise independently of both gonadal hormone signalling and the sexual identity of tumour cells themselves. Unexpectedly, we find that a sexually dimorphic neuronal circuit, classically associated with mating behaviour, is both necessary and sufficient to drive sex-biased intestinal tumorigenesis. The sex of these gut-innervating neurons controls tumour growth by stimulating local production of an insulin-like growth factor in the visceral muscles, a key component of the intestinal stem cell niche. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognised class of tumour-promoting input: the sex of central neurons can reprogram peripheral tumour-supportive environments. Under physiological conditions, this brain–gut pathway also modulates stem cell activity and organ size in a sex-specific manner to promote reproduction. Our work opens a new line of inquiry into how neuronal sex, particularly within the brain–gut axis, shapes physiology and disease, a field still predominantly studied in a male-only context.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Charlène Clot"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rénald Delanoue"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laura Helena Lavocat"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sélia Namouchi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chloé Hérault"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bruno Hudry"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x8vbgc5wens.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-76998-z",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "c3x8vbgc5wens",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723",
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05836846v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2804|Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7203891154",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05836846/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-22",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x8vbgc5wens.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:01Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05836846",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05836846v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2804|Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sex of central neurons controls intestinal niche signalling to drive sex differences in stem cell activity and cancer susceptibility",
  "title_text": "Sex of central neurons controls intestinal niche signalling to drive sex differences in stem cell activity and cancer susceptibility",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3x8vbgc5wens",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}