BRAF identified as novel target for neuropathic pain treatment

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a potential new target for treating chronic pain caused by nerve damage.

The study found that BRAF, a protein commonly associated with cancer, plays an important role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. In preclinical models, drugs that inhibit BRAF reduced pain sensitivity following nerve injury. The findings suggest that existing cancer medicines targeting BRAF could potentially be repurposed to treat chronic nerve pain.

“Our findings identify the cancer-promoting protein BRAF as a key driver of pathological pain signalling following nerve injury,” said Hui-Lin Pan, Endowed Chair of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. “Because BRAF inhibitors are already approved for cancer treatment, this discovery raises the possibility of rapidly repurposing existing therapies to reduce the level of pain signals entering the spinal cord and improve patient quality of life.”