Psilocybin and cancer treatment

Psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in certain hallucinogenic mushrooms, may help cancer patients by potentially reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a common side effect of cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy and nerve damage

Chemotherapy drugs like taxanes, platinum compounds, and vinca alkaloids can block mitochondrial transfer in neurons, leading to nerve damage and symptoms such as burning sensations, cold sensitivity, and tingling in the hands and feet. These symptoms affect more than 60% of patients and can sometimes force them to stop chemotherapy.

How psilocybin may help

Psilocybin activates a signaling pathway that improves mitochondrial movement in neurons, countering the nerve-damaging effects of chemotherapy. This treatment could be given before chemotherapy without reducing its effectiveness against cancer.

Managing side effects

To avoid hallucinations, psilocybin can be administered in microdoses. Researchers are also developing non-hallucinogenic versions of the molecule that activate the same protective pathway.

Current treatment limitations

There is currently no validated preventive treatment for peripheral neuropathy recommended by international guidelines. Existing treatments only manage symptoms after they appear. The findings so far are based on research in mice, and the next step is to conduct human clinical trials.