Ibudilast suppresses oxaliplatin-induced mechanical allodynia and neurodegeneration in rats.

Abstract

Oxaliplatin is a key drug used in the management of solid tumors, such as colorectal cancer; however, it causes peripheral neuropathy. In this study, we investigated the effect of ibudilast, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on oxaliplatin-induced mechanical allodynia and histological changes in rats. Ibudilast (7.5\xa0mg/kg, i.p., 5 times per week) reduced mechanical allodynia and histological changes induced by oxaliplatin (4\xa0mg/kg, i.p., twice a week). In contrast, ibudilast (0.01-10\xa0μM) had no effect on oxaliplatin-induced tumor cytotoxicity in murine colon adenocarcinoma 26\xa0cells. These findings suggest that ibudilast could be useful for preventing oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in clinical settings.