Antibody-based treatment for nerve pain from oxaliplatin chemotherapy
Official title: Advancing Development of Novel Immunotherapy for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
Funded at Albuquerque VA Medical Center · NIH-11109402 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a small engineered antibody-like drug to relieve long-lasting nerve pain in people treated with oxaliplatin chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albuquerque VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005937-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109402 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have received or are receiving oxaliplatin chemotherapy and who are experiencing or at high risk for persistent CIPN symptoms such as cold or mechanical hypersensitivity.
✕Less likely to help
People whose neuropathy is caused by something other than oxaliplatin or whose symptoms are already permanently damaged may not benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
I have nerve pain called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after oxaliplatin, and this work focuses on tiny engineered antibody fragments (scFvs) that can reach nervous tissue better than full-size antibodies. The team is optimizing these small molecules so they bind a pain-related target and reverse chronic cold and mechanical sensitivity that can persist for years. Most of the work is done in the lab and animal models now to improve binding, tissue penetration, and drug-like properties before any human testing. If the approach is successful, it would be developed as a non-opioid drug to reduce neuropathic pain from chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could reduce or reverse CIPN, helping people finish cancer treatment and improving long-term quality of life without opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Similar small antibody fragments have shown promising pain-reducing effects in laboratory and animal studies, but they have not yet been proven safe or effective in people with CIPN.
Where this research is happening
-
Albuquerque VA Medical Center
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Westlund-High, Karin N. — Albuquerque VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Westlund-High, Karin N.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
This grant aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to measure nerve changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy to better understand and monitor chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
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Longitudinal study of how body-sense relates to chemotherapy nerve damage
This study follows people with breast or gastrointestinal cancer and healthy controls to see if brain processing of body sensations contributes to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage.
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A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
A clinician-scientist at Yale is developing a child-friendly survey to quickly screen for nerve-related side effects from cancer treatment in kids from birth to age 5.
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How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
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Axonal transport and chemotherapy-related nerve pain
This grant studies why certain cancer patients develop painful nerve damage from chemotherapy and explores ways to prevent or treat it.
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Remote monitoring and nurse follow-up to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A program uses symptom reporting tools with nurse follow-up to reduce and better manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy for cancer survivors, during and after treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.