Skin nerve–immune links in chemotherapy-related hand and foot nerve pain
Contribution of cutaneous neuro-immune interactions to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
This project looks at how interactions between skin nerves and the immune system may cause long-lasting hand and foot nerve pain after the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11240287 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are using mouse models of oxaliplatin chemotherapy to study how nerves in the skin of the hands and feet interact with immune cells and how those interactions may cause long-lasting pain, numbness, or tingling. They will map changes in skin nerve fibers and immune cell behavior after treatment, focusing on the areas where chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy most often appears. By comparing affected skin to normal skin, the team aims to identify signals that drive nerve damage and persistent symptoms. This information could point toward new targets to prevent or treat chronic nerve symptoms after chemotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have received oxaliplatin and who have ongoing numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in their hands or feet would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without chemotherapy-induced neuropathy or whose nerve symptoms are due to other causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat long-lasting hand and foot nerve pain after oxaliplatin chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked immune cells to nerve damage at the dorsal root ganglia, but examining immune–nerve interactions in the skin is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shiozawa, Yusuke — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Shiozawa, Yusuke
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.