The effects of thalidomide and minocycline on taxol-induced hyperalgesia in rats.

Author(s): Cata JP, Weng HR, Dougherty PM

Affiliation(s): The Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Unit 409, Houston, TX, 77030 USA.

Publication date & source: 2008-09-10, Brain Res., 1229:100-10. Epub 2008 Jul 9.

Publication type: Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Chemotherapy-induced pain is the most common treatment-limiting complication encountered by cancer patients receiving taxane-, vinca alkaloid- or platin-based chemotherapy. Several lines of evidence indicate that activation of pro-inflammatory cascades involving the release of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as various growth factors are key events in the pathogenesis of many types of nerve-injury related pain. Similar mechanisms might also be involved in the etiology of chemotherapy-induced pain. Thalidomide and minocycline have profound immunomodulatory actions in addition to their originally intended pharmacological actions. These compounds were evaluated here for effects in preventing the development of taxol-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in rats. Thalidomide (50.0 mg/kg) reduced taxol-induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia whereas minocycline (20.0 mg/kg) reduced taxol-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia as well as taxol-induced thermal hyperalgesia. These results suggest that immunomodulatory agents may provide a treatment option for the protection or reversal of chemotherapy-related pain.