Psilocybin Shows Promise in Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Nerve Damage
On September 3, a study in Science revealed that psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, could potentially prevent peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. In the experiment, mice with abdominal tumors were administered two doses of psilocybin prior to receiving six rounds of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. The results showed that the psilocybin-treated mice did not experience pain hypersensitivity, unlike those treated with cisplatin alone. Notably, psilocybin did not interfere with the tumor-reducing properties of cisplatin and supported the movement of mitochondria along nerve fibers. Additional research involving nerve cells from 29 surgical patients at M.D. Anderson indicated similar outcomes. A mid-stage clinical trial is set to begin in November and will last four years. Currently, effective treatments for this neuropathy, which affects up to 70% of patients, are lacking.
Key facts
- A study published in Science on September 3 found that psilocybin prevented pain hypersensitivity in mice undergoing cisplatin chemotherapy.
- Mice received two doses of psilocybin one week apart before six monthly rounds of cisplatin; those given psilocybin showed no signs of nerve damage.
- Psilocybin did not affect cisplatin's ability to shrink tumors.
- The compound appears to maintain mitochondrial movement along nerve fibers, which cisplatin typically disrupts.
- Experiments on nerve cells from 29 human surgery patients at M.D. Anderson suggested similar effects on human mitochondria.
- A mid-stage clinical trial is planned to start in November and end about four years later.
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy affects up to 70 percent of patients, with no effective treatments currently available.
- Patient Naomi Aziz, 35, reported that psilocybin eased her pain and helped her come to terms with infertility during endometrial cancer treatment.
Entities
Artists
- James MacDonald
- Maria Maiaru
- Moran Amit
- Joe Cichon
- Susanna Park
- Naomi Aziz
- Carissa Wong
- Andrew Jacobs
- Max Kozlov
- Catherine Offord
- Sara Hashemi
Institutions
- Science
- University of Reading
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- New Scientist
- New York Times
- University of Pennsylvania
- Nature
- University of Sydney
- Food and Drug Administration
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Bloomberg
- Getty Images
Locations
- England
- United States
- Australia
- New York City
- Poland