Psilocybin Shows Promise in Preventing Chemotherapy‑Induced Nerve Damage

Preclinical studies indicate that psilocybin can protect nerve endings from the damage caused by chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin. In mice with abdominal tumours, two abdominal injections of psilocybin—each equivalent to a 25‑mg human dose—were given one week apart before daily cisplatin treatment. The treated mice displayed pain sensitivity similar to control animals that never received chemotherapy, whereas untreated mice became markedly more sensitive. Analysis of nerve samples revealed that psilocybin activates the 5HT2A receptor, which signals to preserve mitochondrial transport along microtubules and maintain energy supply to nerve endings. Human neuron cultures treated with psilocybin before cisplatin also showed reduced toxic effects. A randomized controlled trial of 80 patients with breast, colorectal or head‑and‑neck cancer is scheduled to begin in November, with results expected in about five years.