How immune cells in women might protect against nerve pain from chemotherapy
Official title: Novel expression of MHC class II on DRG neurons and its role in promoting antinociceptive CD4+ T cells in females during chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11132670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how certain immune cells in female bodies may naturally reduce nerve pain caused by chemotherapy, aiming to find new ways to prevent this side effect.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $342,189 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA267554-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant for patients, especially women, who experience or are at risk of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing or at risk for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Chemotherapy can cause severe nerve pain, called peripheral neuropathy, which often limits how much treatment patients can receive. We've noticed that female mice seem to have more protective immune cells in their nerves compared to males, especially when they have normal estrogen levels. These immune cells, called CD4+ T cells, appear to lessen the severity of nerve pain after chemotherapy. Our goal is to understand how these specific immune cells work to protect nerves and reduce pain in females.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new preventative treatments for chemotherapy-induced nerve pain, particularly for women undergoing cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that T cells play a role in nerve pain, and our preliminary findings suggest a unique sex-specific mechanism involving CD4+ T cells.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goode, Diana J — University of New England
- Study coordinator: Goode, Diana J
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.