Understanding how early nerve excitement during chemotherapy leads to painful nerve damage
Official title: The role of acute excitation of sensory neurons in the development of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11396222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,208,622 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA273001-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy who experience acute pain during infusion or who are at risk for developing PIPN may benefit from future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This research is not a direct treatment or prevention trial for individual patients during the current funding period; benefits would come from later developments.
What this research studies
This project explores how paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, excites sensory nerves during infusion and how this early nerve activity might set off later painful nerve damage. Researchers plan to study nerve cells, energy use, and how tiny cellular cargo moves along nerves to see why neuropathy develops. The work builds on recent findings that paclitaxel can over-excite sensory neurons by blocking KCNQ channels, leading to ATP depletion and transport problems in axons. By understanding these processes, the study aims to identify potential moments to intervene before chronic pain emerges. The study will use an animal model to trace the chain from initial nerve excitement to nerve degeneration and symptoms in the extremities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new strategies to prevent or lessen paclitaxel-induced nerve pain for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that early nerve over-excitation and ATP depletion can contribute to nerve damage, supporting the potential for this approach, though direct translation to treatments is still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Qing — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Yang, Qing
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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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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Auricular vagus nerve stimulation to help HIV-related nerve pain in older adults
A new, non-invasive brain-nerve stimulation approach is being tested to help older adults living with HIV who have nerve pain.
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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.
-
Understanding nerve damage in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3
A study in people with SCA3 explores how the disease affects the peripheral nerves and what that means for symptoms like numbness or weakness.
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.