Investigating a new treatment for pain caused by chemotherapy
Official title: Anti-nociceptive actions of CART II in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11088839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new treatment called CART II to help relieve the painful nerve issues that some cancer patients experience after chemotherapy, and it aims to find a safer way to manage that pain for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $357,178 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284075-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088839 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or do not experience neuropathic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding a novel non-opioid treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a painful condition affecting many cancer patients. The study explores the effects of a neuropeptide called CART II, which has shown promise in reversing pain-like behaviors in animal models. By understanding how CART II interacts with specific receptors in the brain, researchers aim to develop a safer and more effective pain management option for patients suffering from CIPN. The research will involve comprehensive evaluations of CART II's effects on pain in both male and female subjects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new, safer treatment option for managing pain in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using neuropeptides for pain management, but this specific approach with CART II is novel and untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buczynski, Matthew Wallace — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Buczynski, Matthew Wallace
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).
-
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.
-
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.