NEURO-DOL : Physiopathologie et pharmacologie de la douleur et de la migraine

Published on July 21, 2021 – Updated on July 21, 2021

NEURO-DOL studies cancer- and treatment-related pain based on a translational research, aiming at improving characterization of pathophysiology, epidemiology and discovering of new therapeutic targets and strategies.

HCN2 and TRIP8b mRNA labelling in the mouse brain obtained with the RNAscope technic (Picture provided by Dr. Aissouni, NEURO-DOL)

HCN2 and TRIP8b mRNA labelling in the mouse brain obtained with the RNAscope technic (Picture provided by Dr. Aissouni, NEURO-DOL)

NEURO-DOL studies chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), an adverse effect of neurotoxic anticancer drugs (platinum derivatives, taxanes, bortezomib, etc.). CIPN are responsible for distal paresthesia and dysesthesia, dramatically decreasing the patients’ quality of life. Therapeutic management remains very limited since only duloxetine is recommended (ASCO). Consequently, oncologists must decrease or stop chemotherapies, with an uncertain impact on cancer. More recently, works on cancer-related bone pain have emerged in the team.

Based on a classical and reverse translational research, NEURO-DOL lab explores epidemiology and pathophysiology of cancer pain in order to propose innovative therapeutic strategies. NEURO-DOL has an expertise on a large panel of animal models (rats and mice) reproducing CIPN symptomatology (platinum derivatives, taxanes, bortezomib, vincristine) and cancer-related bone pain, allowing behavioral and electrophysiological explorations of sensorial and sensory neuropathic disorders (nociceptive, proprioceptive, audiology), associated comorbidities and therapeutic studies. Many collaborations with oncology departments of the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand and outside Clermont-Ferrand sites allowed the beginning of observational and interventional clinical trials.

  • Epidemiology studies: Long-term prevalence of CIPN (oxaliplatin NCT02970526, bortezomib NCT03344328); oncologists’ practices regarding diagnostic and management of CIPN (NCT03854864); prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients treated or not with mTOR inhibitors (ANR SERO6Pain).
  • Pathophysiology studies: circulating biomarkers of neurotoxicity (IMI2 NEURODERISK); choline and insula (NCT02340403); mobility; HCN ion channel (ANR PHARMHCN); 5-HT2A receptors and PDZ proteins (Clermont Auvergne Innovation contract).
  • Therapeutic studies: M2 muscarinic receptors and donepezil; K2P ion channels and riluzole (PHRC-K RILUZOX); glutamate and polyamines reduced diet (NCT01775449); GPCR receptors.

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