Papers of the Week

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a highly prevalent and complex condition arising from chemotherapy cancer treatments. Currently, there are no treatment or prevention options in the clinic. CIPN accompanies pain-related sensory functions starting from the hands and feet. Studies focusing on neurons and models significantly advanced our understanding of CIPN pathological mechanisms. However, given the direct toxicity shown in both neurons and non-neuronal cells, effective or models that allow the investigation of neurons in their local environment are required. No single model can provide a complete solution for the required investigation, therefore, utilizing a multi-model approach would allow complementary advantages of different models and robustly validate findings before further translation. This review aims first to summarize approaches and insights from CIPN models utilizing small model organisms. We will focus on CIPN models that are genetically amenable and accessible to study neuronal interactions with the local environment . Second, we will discuss how these findings could be tested in physiologically relevant vertebrate models. We will focus on approaches using human cells and summarize the current understanding of engineering approaches that may allow the investigation of pathological changes in neurons and the skin environment.