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Multiple Myeloma And Its Treatment Alter Peripheral Nervous System Structure And Function, Alyssa K. Kosturakis

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND ITS TREATMENT ALTER PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Alyssa Katarina Kosturakis, BA

Supervisory Professor: Patrick M. Dougherty, PhD

Peripheral neuropathy is among the most deleterious side effects of frontline chemotherapeutics used to treat prevalent cancers. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) refers to the collection of symptoms (e.g. pain, paresthesias and dysesthesias) that develop in distal, glabrous (non-hairy) skin of 20 to 100% of patients treated with chemotherapy. Peripheral neuropathy negatively impacts quality of life in cancer patients and survivors, is refractory to treatment, and is the impetus for dose-reduction and/or cessation of chemotherapy, thereby limiting treatment. Proteasome …

Mechanisms Of Astrocyte Contribution To Bortezomib-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Caleb R. Robinson

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor used in the treatment of multiple myeloma and other non-solid malignancies, alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. Like other chemotherapeutic agents, bortezomib treatment is frequently accompanied by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) that may be dose-limiting, adversely affecting quality of life and prognosis. The mechanisms behind bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) and CIPN overall are largely unknown. Recent findings in other pain models have indicated substantial involvement of glial cells in chronic pain. Although injury models have shown activation of both astrocytes and microglia following insult, research in other CIPN models has shown astrocytic activation …