Dissecting chemotherapy-induced nerve damage
with a novel in vitro model

Newsletter # 126



In vitro studies


Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, causing nerve damage that can lead to chronic pain and numbness. As there are no effective treatments, new research is vital. Our lab has developed a robust in vitro model using primary sensory neurons. This model allows us to precisely study how chemotherapies like Taxol, Vincristine, and Cisplatin damage nerve cells and, more importantly, how potential new drugs can protect them. We discovered a key difference in how these drugs work. While all three caused significant neuronal injury, Taxol and Vincristine directly attacked the neuron's structural framework, the microtubules, leading to rapid and dramatic loss of neurite network. Cisplatin, however, caused cell injury by damaging DNA, without the same immediate structural neurite collapse.
This finding is crucial because it allows us not only to discriminate chemotherapy directly targets neurite’s microtubules but also to test new neuroprotective compounds with a new level of precision. We successfully demonstrated that Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) shields neurons from all three types of damage, validating our model as an effective screening tool.
This new model is a game-changer for drug discovery, offering a rapid and reliable way to identify safer chemotherapy agents and screen neuroprotective therapies, bringing us closer to a solution for millions of cancer patients.

  • Acid phosphatase assay

  • Lactate deshydrogenase assay

  • Neurite assay

  • Cell Survival :
    Chemotherapy drugs (Cisplatin, Taxol, Vincristine) significantly reduce cell survival, while NGF treatment colored gray-out bars) helps neurons survive these toxic effects.
  • Cell Death :
    Conversely, chemotherapy greatly increases neuronal cell death, with NGF significantly reducing this damage.
  • Neurite Network :
    Taxol and Vincristine dramatically shrink the neurite network (nerve fibers), while Cisplatin has less direct structural impact. Notably, NGF protects the neurite network, highlighting its potential to prevent the physical damage underlying CIPN.

NEUROFIT offers a range of validated in vitro and in vivo screening tests for psychiatry and neurology.

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