Medications for Memory and Thinking Problems After Chemotherapy
Fingolimod and Ozanimod for the treatment and prevention of chemobrain
This project explores if two existing medications, fingolimod and ozanimod, can help prevent or treat the memory and thinking difficulties many people experience after chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136387 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many cancer patients struggle with "chemobrain," a common side effect of chemotherapy that affects memory and thinking. Currently, there are no approved treatments for this condition. This project aims to understand why chemobrain happens by looking at how chemotherapy affects brain cells and causes inflammation. We believe that changes in certain brain chemicals, called sphingolipids, might be a key trigger. By targeting these chemicals with medications like fingolimod and ozanimod, we hope to find a way to protect the brain and improve cognitive function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced or are at risk of developing memory and thinking difficulties after receiving chemotherapy, particularly taxanes or platinum-based agents, would be ideal candidates for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose cognitive impairment is not related to chemotherapy or who do not receive the specific types of chemotherapy being studied may not directly benefit from this particular approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the challenging memory and thinking problems that often follow chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: There are currently no FDA-approved interventions for chemobrain, making this approach with S1PR1 antagonists a novel and relatively untested strategy for this specific condition.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Saint Louis University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salvemini, Daniela — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Salvemini, Daniela
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 below.