A study published in Science suggests two doses of psilocybin before chemotherapy can protect sensory nerve endings and prevent peripheral neuropathy in mice.
Researchers found the drug acts on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors to protect nerve cell mitochondria without interfering with the chemotherapy's antitumor effectiveness.
A mid-stage clinical trial is being planned to determine if these protective mechanisms translate to meaningful neuropathy reduction in human cancer patients.