Psilocybin Enters 80-Patient Trial to Prevent Chemotherapy Nerve Damage
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Sep 3
Psilocybin Enters 80-Patient Trial to Prevent Chemotherapy Nerve Damage
2 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Sep 3
Summary
An 80-patient randomized trial is set to start in November to test whether two pre-chemotherapy doses of psilocybin can prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancers.
About 75% of chemotherapy patients develop some degree of this nerve damage, which can cause lasting numbness, tingling, and pain, and no drug has previously been shown to prevent it.
Mouse and human-neuron experiments found psilocybin preserved nerve-ending energy supply during cisplatin treatment, reducing pain sensitivity and limiting damage linked to disrupted mitochondrial transport.
Researchers said psilocin activated the 5HT2A receptor and molecular signaling that protected mitochondrial movement in nerves, offering a possible mechanism for the protective effect.
Results are expected in about five years, and researchers warned cancer patients not to take psilocybin outside medical supervision because it has not been proven safe in chemotherapy and may interact dangerously with cancer drugs.
Could a famous hallucinogen be the secret to saving cancer patients from permanent nerve damage without stopping their life-saving treatments?
If magic mushrooms protect nerves by preserving cellular energy, could they hold the key to reversing other incurable neurodegenerative diseases?
NeuroGuard and the Psilocybin Revolution: Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patients
Overview
This report highlights a major breakthrough from MD Anderson showing that psilocybin, by binding to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, activates a pathway that preserves mitochondrial movement in nerve fibers. This helps nerve endings maintain energy during chemotherapy, preventing the painful nerve damage known as CIPN before it starts. The protective effect is lost if the 5-HT2A pathway is blocked, but can be achieved without psychedelic effects using non-hallucinogenic compounds. Building on these findings, the NeuroGuard clinical trial is underway to test psilocybin’s safety and effectiveness in cancer patients, potentially transforming supportive care in oncology.