{
  "id": 19178695,
  "title": "Mitochondrial Dysfunction is Part of a Novel Mechanism for Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/mitochondrial-dysfunction-is-part-of-a-novel-mechanism-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.06.764717v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent, ongoing issue for cancer patients undergoing treatment. The exact reasons behind this pain are still unclear, but researchers have discovered a potential cause. Mitochondrial dysfunction in the spinal cord may be linked to CIPN, according to a recent study.\n\nThe researchers found that paclitaxel, a common chemotherapy drug, caused persistent mechanical allodynia at least 18 days after the final injection. This condition involved decreased oxygen consumption, altered membrane potential in the non-phosphorylated state, reduced ATP-linked respiration, and diminished electron transfer capacity at the L1-L6 section of the spinal cord.\n\nMoreover, paclitaxel heightened the spinal cord's vulnerability to mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activation, leading to lower calcium retention at various intervals following the last dose. The effects were similar when paclitaxel was applied acutely, and the mPTP blocker cyclosporin A effectively reversed the situation.\n\nThe researchers also noted that exposing paclitaxel to the cells in a lab setting produced comparable outcomes. Cyclosporin A, which inhibits mPTP, significantly alleviated the symptoms. These results suggest that mitochondrial impairment plays a causal role in CIPN, and strategies to protect the mitochondria in the spinal cord could be a potential treatment for this condition and other pain-related issues.",
  "summary": "Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, persistent complication of cancer treatment, yet the mechanisms sustaining pain remain unclear. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in chronic pain, but its role in spinal cord dysfunction after chemotherapy, and whether it can be reversed, is unknown. Here, we show that paclitaxel-induced persistent mechanical allodynia was…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}