Psilocybin Shows Promise in Preventing Chemotherapy Nerve Damage

There is promising news coming about the potential benefits of psilocybin for chemo patients. Read on for what the latest research signals about this compound.

Magic Mushroom Shows Promise in Preventing Neuropathy in Chemo Patients

One of the most concerning side effects of chemotherapy is nerve damage. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) happens because the chemo drugs disrupt the normal function and structure of healthy nerve cells throughout the hands and the feet.

However, new research is offering hope that there could be a possible treatment to help reduce this damage. A study published in the journal Science on September 3 detailed that the prophylactic medical use of psilocybin prevented peripheral neuropathy in mice. Psilocybin is the hallucinogen that most people know as magic mushrooms.

The New York Times reported that researchers are now beginning trials in human participants because the results with the mice were so promising.

Peripheral neuropathy does more than just cause nerve damage. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition can also lead to loss of reflexes, pain, and mobility challenges. Chemotherapy patients often experience disabling and irreversible peripheral neuropathy due to the harshness of the drugs.

Psilocybin works by traveling through a specific pathway that protects nerves. The compound effectively preserves the movement and distribution of the mitochondria that produce energy.

The researchers found that administering two doses of psilocybin in pill form to mice under chemotherapy mitigated the “pain hypersensitivity caused by neurotoxic chemotherapies.” The first two doses also protected the mice for six consecutive rounds of chemotherapy throughout the eight months of the study.

The use of psilocybin has been in the headlines recently as some physicians are now turning to the compound to treat mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The compound has also been shown to be effective in addressing addiction issues. The Psychedelic Journal notes that the formal use of psychedelics is only legal in Colorado and Oregon.

What is Next for Psilocybin and Chemo Patients?

Scientists are encouraged that the psilocybin treatments in mice did not negatively impact tumor growth or immune response. This means that the drug is particularly promising, as it did not appear to lead to some of the most severe side effects of chemotherapy. There is hope that the use of psilocybin could be beneficial in patients with various forms and stages of cancer.

In addition, the protection offered to the mice from psilocybin was not dependent on the hallucinogenic properties of the mushrooms. In other words, both hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic versions of psilocybin delivered the same promising results.  

Scientists are still working to determine if psilocybin could be helpful in the treatment of existing neuropathy cases. The researchers also want to determine if psilocybin could be effective in reversing neuropathy.

The National Library of Medicine's clinical trials record notes that human trials looking into the impact of psilocybin on preventing neuropathy will first look at people with breast, colorectal, head, and neck cancers. The human trials will involve four doses. Two will be provided before chemotherapy treatment, while the remaining two will be administered after.

The human trials will also include research into the participants' quality of life, sleep patterns, pain levels, mental health, and overall functionality.

These studies are part of the broader University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Neuroscience Program. This all-encompassing initiative looks at the interactions between cancer and the body's nervous system, paying close attention to the patient's quality of life.

Moran Amit, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Head and Neck Surgery and co-author of the study, said that “There is an urgent need for treatments that prevent nerve injury without interfering with lifesaving chemotherapy. These findings offer important insights into how psilocybin may protect nerves before damage occurs, rather than treating symptoms after they become persistent. At UT MD Anderson, we are actively exploring the multiple facets of psychedelics to pursue interventions that improve the lives of our patients.”

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