Blocking NLRP3 to treat paclitaxel-related nerve pain
Official title: Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome for the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11237999 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome can help adults who get nerve pain from paclitaxel chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $217,738 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA296516-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237999 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy or who have developed paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy would be the most relevant future candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People with nerve pain from causes unrelated to paclitaxel or those seeking immediate symptom relief should not expect direct benefit from this preclinical study.
What this research studies
Researchers are using mouse models that receive paclitaxel to mimic the nerve pain many patients get from this chemotherapy. They will measure levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia and compare pain-related behaviors in normal mice versus mice without NLRP3 or mice given NLRP3 blockers. The team’s preliminary data show mice lacking NLRP3 do not develop paclitaxel-induced neuropathy, so the project tests whether blocking NLRP3 reduces inflammation and nerve pain. Successful preclinical results would support moving NLRP3-targeting treatments toward human testing for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced nerve pain and help patients complete cancer treatment with better quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies, including the investigators’ preliminary mouse work, support NLRP3’s role in this type of neuropathy, but NLRP3-targeting therapies have not yet been proven in patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
Where this research is happening
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Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Damaj, M. Imad — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Damaj, M. Imad
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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A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
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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.
-
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.