Association between Met-BDNF allele and vulnerability to paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy

Excerpt

Paclitaxel interference with microtubule axonal transport in normal neuronal cells induces peripheral neuropathy that limits its effectiveness [1]. The mechanism of enhanced vulnerability to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is still unknown. Our previous report that showed dysregulated blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patient developing CIPN [2] raised the need for investigating a possible link between genetic alterations in BDNF and vulnerability to CIPN. The human BDNF gene carries a frequent non-conservative single nucleotide polymorphism (Val66Met). The Met-BDNF allele was reported to cause a deficit in the cellular distribution and regulated secretion of neuronal BDNF [3]. We, therefore, wanted to check whether Met-BDNF allele is associated with vulnerability to CIPN. …