Dec 6: KWF grant for research into neuropathic pain after cancer chemotherapy
The Neuro-Immunology of Pain research group of Niels Eijkelkamp has received a grant from the KWF Dutch Cancer Society over € 750.000 to further develop a potential treatment for severe neuropathic pain that may occur as a side effect of chemotherapy in cancer patients. In previous research they have already demonstrated that a fusion protein of two anti-inflammatory cytokines reduces pain that occurs as a side effect of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of cancer treatments. It leads to chronic severe pain symptoms that frequently persists after a cancer therapy has been discontinued. In addition, these symptoms often cause that the chemotherapy has to be reduced or even stopped, limiting the cancer patient's chances of survival.
Fusion proteins
Cytokines, which are body proteins that play an important role in immune responses, also appear to play an important role in the regulation of pain and nerve protection. In particular, anti-inflammatory cytokines play an important role, often in concert with each other. For this reason, the group of Niels Eijkelkamp has recently created new molecular structures in which they have combined two different anti-inflammatory cytokines in a single molecule. Early versions of these so-called fusion proteins have shown that they activate the different cytokine receptors, but also bring them together. This produces a much stronger response that effectively may protect neurons from the adverse effects of chemotherapy.
Optimal cytokine combination
In this project, supported by the KWF Dutch Cancer Society and named 2StopPain, the investigators want to determine the most optimal combination of anti-inflammatory cytokines to protect pain nerves without affecting cancer treatment. To do this, they are looking at how fusion proteins can limit damage parameters of cultured nerve cells. In addition, they determine whether these fusion proteins adversely affect the action of chemotherapy in cultured tumor tissue. These experiments help to pre-select the best drug candidates to test in experimental animal models for CIPN and cancer. It is important for further clinical development to understand how these molecules work. Therefore, Eijkelkamp and colleagues will use different technologies to determine which cell types, cytokine receptors, and signaling by these receptors contribute to the mechanism of action.
Niels Eijkelkamp says: “There are still no effective therapies against CIPN. Our studies will become an important contribution to the development of an effective therapy against CIPN. The most active combination of anti-inflammatory cytokines will be further developed by UMC Utrecht spin-off company Synerkine Pharma into a full-fledged drug, which may eventually contribute to a better quality of life for (ex-)cancer patients as well as a more successful cancer therapy.”