Using duloxetine to prevent nerve damage from chemotherapy in cancer patients
Official title: Duloxetine to Prevent Oxaliplatin-Induced Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II to Phase III Study
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10756924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether the medication duloxetine can help prevent numbness and tingling in the hands and feet caused by oxaliplatin treatment in people with colorectal cancer, and it will involve patients from different locations to see how well it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | January 10, 2019 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $95,851 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA235726-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-10756924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with stage II-IV colorectal cancer who are scheduled to receive oxaliplatin as part of their treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving oxaliplatin or those with contraindications to duloxetine may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates whether duloxetine can prevent oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) in patients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer. OIPN is a common side effect characterized by numbness and tingling in the extremities, which can lead to pain and significantly impact quality of life. The study will involve a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, where participants will receive either duloxetine or a placebo to assess its effectiveness in preventing these symptoms. The research will be conducted across multiple sites, allowing for a diverse patient population to participate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a preventive treatment option for patients at risk of developing painful nerve damage from chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results for duloxetine in treating established OIPN, indicating potential for its preventive use.
Where this research is happening
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Ellen Mary Lavoie — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Smith, Ellen Mary Lavoie
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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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.
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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.