Grünenthal DOR Award recognizes research in cancer patients

A team of researchers led by Isaura Tavares, from the “Pain Neurobiology” group, recently won the Grünenthal DOR 2020 Prize, basic research category, worth 7,500 euros. The work, entitled “Serotoninergic and noradrenergic descending pain modulation in an animal model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy” sheds new light on the neurological mechanisms underlying the pain and symptoms of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Neuropathy is characterized by an increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, but also to stimuli that should not cause pain. This complication is common in cancer treatment, significantly affecting the quality of life of cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy and may even require a change in therapy.

In this work, the team studied the “central consequences of peripheral nerve damage by cytostatic agents used in the treatment of cancer patients” and the main conclusion, highlights researcher Isaura Tavares, “is that the central nervous system is indirectly affected by peripheral nerve damage. And among the areas of the brain affected are those areas involved in pain control”.

Researchers suggest the development of new drugs that combine different mechanisms of action to increase the effectiveness of the treatment of neuropathy. This research was carried out in animal models, and the results should now be re-evaluated using methods under development, in order to assess the real impact on the treatment of cancer patients.

In addition to Isaura Tavares (i3S and FMUP), the team is made up of researchers José Tiago Pereira (i3S and FCNAUP), Joana Ribeiro (i3S and FCUP), Paula Serrão (FMUP) and Isabel Martins (i3S and FMUP).