Preclinical study points to cancer drugs as possible treatments for chronic nerve pain
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that the protein BRAF plays a significant role in chronic nerve pain. The study suggests that existing cancer drugs targeting BRAF could be repurposed to treat neuropathic pain.
Why it matters
Repurposing existing FDA-approved cancer drugs could provide a faster, more effective pathway for treating chronic pain conditions that are currently difficult to manage.
by University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found new evidence that BRAF, a protein commonly involved in cancer, plays a key role in developing, amplifying and maintaining chronic pain caused by nerve damage. BRAF inhibitors reduced pain sensitivity in preclinical models, suggesting the therapeutic potential of this approach for treating chronic nerve pain.
The study, published in Science Signaling , was co-led by Shao-Rui Chen, M.D., professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Hui-Lin Pan, M.D., Ph.D., endowed chair of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.
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