Chemotherapy-induced
peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of
cancer therapy that frequently requires a reduction or cessation of treatments and negatively impacts the patient's quality of life. There is currently no effective means to prevent or treat CIPN. In this study, we developed and applied CIPN in an immunocompetent, syngeneic murine
Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLCab) model that enabled the elucidation of both
tumor and host responses to
cisplatin and treatments of
Y-27632, a selective inhibitor of
Rho kinase/
p160ROCK.
Y-27632 not only preserved
cisplatin's efficacy toward
tumor suppression but also the combination treatment inhibited
tumor cell proliferation and increased cellular apoptosis. By alleviating the
cisplatin-induced loss of epidermal nerve fibers (ENFs),
Y-27632 protected
tumor-bearing mice from
cisplatin-induced reduction of touch sensation. Furthermore, quantitative proteomic analysis revealed the striking
cisplatin-induced dysregulation in cellular stress (
inflammation, mitochondrial deficiency, DNA repair, etc.)-associated
proteins.
Y-27632 was able to reverse the changes of these
proteins that are associated with
Rho GTPase and NF-κB signaling network, and also decreased
cisplatin-induced NF-κB hyperactivation in both footpad tissues and
tumor. Therefore,
Y-27632 is an effective adjuvant in
tumor suppression and peripheral neuroprotection. These studies highlight the potential of targeting the RhoA-NF-κB axis as a combination
therapy to treat CIPN. IMPLICATIONS: This study, for the first time, demonstrated the dual
antineoplastic and
neuroprotective effects of
Rho kinase/
p160ROCK inhibition in a syngeneic immunocompetent
tumor-bearing mouse model, opening the door for further clinical adjuvant development of RhoA-NF-κB axis to improve chemotherapeutic outcomes.