Evaluating the effects of cannabis compounds on nerve pain from chemotherapy
Official title: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Benefits of Phytocannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-10512235 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether CBD and THC can help cancer survivors who have nerve pain from chemotherapy feel better, and if you join, you might receive one of these treatments or a placebo over eight weeks to see how it helps with symptoms like tingling and pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $452,540 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA260447-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10512235 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adult cancer survivors, particularly those who have experienced chronic nerve pain following chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential benefits of phytocannabinoids, specifically cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in treating chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer survivors. Participants, including breast and colon cancer survivors, will be randomly assigned to receive either CBD, a combination of CBD and THC, or a placebo over an 8-week period. The study aims to gather data on how these compounds may alleviate symptoms such as tingling, numbness, and pain, which significantly impact the quality of life for many cancer survivors. By addressing the lack of information on cannabis use in this context, the research seeks to provide valuable insights for patients and healthcare providers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could offer new treatment options for cancer survivors suffering from debilitating nerve pain.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of cannabis for pain management is gaining popularity, this specific approach to treating chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is relatively novel and has limited prior research backing.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Richard T — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Lee, Richard T
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.