Preventing and treating nerve damage caused by chemotherapy
Official title: Prevention and treatment of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-10755336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether a medication called 4-aminopyridine can help relieve the painful nerve issues that many cancer patients experience from chemotherapy, with the hope of making their lives a little easier during treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | December 16, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $170,988 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277447-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10755336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who are at risk of developing peripheral neuropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or those who have pre-existing neuropathy unrelated to chemotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a painful condition affecting many cancer patients undergoing treatment. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of 4-aminopyridine (4AP), a drug that may help prevent or alleviate the symptoms of CIPN. By restoring normal nerve function, the research seeks to improve the quality of life for patients and reduce the financial burden associated with CIPN. The approach involves clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of 4AP in this context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for cancer patients by reducing or preventing nerve damage caused by chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using 4-aminopyridine for nerve-related conditions, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noble, Mark D — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Noble, Mark D
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).
-
Novel pain biomarker for neuropathy that could guide therapy
A study to develop and test a biomarker that reflects how well peripherally acting pain medicines work for people with painful peripheral neuropathy.
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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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Understanding how early nerve excitement during chemotherapy leads to painful nerve damage
A cancer treatment study looks at why the nerve pain some patients get after paclitaxel may develop, by studying how nerves react during the infusion.
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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.
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.