Lung cancer is currently a leading cause of mortality. One of these serious neurotoxic side effects that develop in lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Our proposal will be focused on CIPN induced by cisplatin and paclitaxel since these are two of the most effective and widely used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of common cancers, including non- small cell lung cancer. CIPN can be a dose-limiting factor for chemotherapy or result in premature termination of treatment, thereby influencing survival and quality of life. Currently, there are no effective therapies that deal with the underlying pathogenic mechanisms such as neurodegeneration. In addition, the current symptomatic therapies that deal with painful symptoms of CIPN are generally ineffective. Therefore, the identification of alternative forms of therapy is a crucial medical need. In this application we will focus on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) modulators, in particular ?7 subtypes, as potential targets for treatment of CIPN. These receptors are expressed by central and peripheral neuronal cells (dorsal root ganglia) involved in pain transmission and by macrophages and other cells involved in the inflammatory responses.
In Aim 1, we will test the ability of ?7 nAChR silent agonists to prevent or ameliorate the development of peripheral neuropathy induced by cisplatin and paclitaxel, including well- defined neuropathologies that accompany CIPN.
In Aim 2, we will test the ?7 nAChR silent agonists in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and patient derived tumor cells in culture as well as in tumor bearing mice to eliminate the possibility that these agents stimulate tumor growth or compromise the potency of chemotherapy (cisplatin and paclitaxel). In addition, suppression of CIPN by the ?7 nAChR silent agonists will be confirmed in the tumor bearing mice. If effective treatment/prevention can be identified, it should be possible to treat patients or prolonged periods as dose-dependent neuropathy will not be a limiting toxicity and compliance as well as quality of life will be improved.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and often dose- limiting complication of cancer therapy utilizing taxanes, platinum based drugs and newer agents such as bortezomib. Determining the modulatory role of a novel group of compounds known as ?7 silent agonists at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy represents a unique strategy for the development of treatments for prevention and/or reversal of CIPN. If successful, this application promises to have a significant positive impact on compliance and symptom management for cancer patients.
