Weekly liraglutide injections reduced nerve pain, improved motor function, and decreased inflammation in rats with cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Weekly > DailyWeekly liraglutide was more effective than daily dosing for protecting against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
What the researchers found
Liraglutide, especially at weekly dosing, reduced cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain, motor impairment, and nerve tissue damage in rats.
Why it matters
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy affects many cancer patients and has no effective treatment. GLP-1 agonists could address this unmet need.
The numbers in context
- 32 rats in 4 groups of 8
- Cisplatin dose: 3 mg/kg/week for 5 weeks
- Liraglutide given once weekly or daily
- Weekly liraglutide was more effective than daily
- Markers measured: SOD, CAT, GPx (oxidative stress); NO, IL-6, IL-10 (inflammation)
How the study worked
Preclinical study in 32 female Sprague Dawley rats divided into 4 groups with behavioral, biochemical, and histological analysis.
Who was studied
N=32 female Sprague Dawley rats in 4 groups. Neuropathy induced by cisplatin 3 mg/kg/week for 5 weeks.
What this study cannot tell us
Animal study; results may not translate to humans. Only one chemotherapy agent tested. Small group sizes.
How to read the evidence
Preclinical animal study. Promising but requires human clinical trials for translation.
When this study was published
Published in 2025.
The bigger picture
GLP-1 receptor agonists continue to show neuroprotective properties beyond metabolic effects, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues for chemotherapy side effects.
Questions still open
- Would liraglutide show similar neuroprotective effects in human cancer patients?
- Why was weekly dosing superior to daily?
Common questions
Can GLP-1 drugs prevent chemotherapy nerve damage?
Why was weekly dosing better than daily?
Read the original research
The effects of the GLP1 analog liraglutide on allodynia and motor coordination in peripheral neuropathy induced by a chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin.
Journal of molecular histology, 56(3), 153
Citation
Ozatik, Fikriye Yasemin; Teksen, Yasemin; Ozatik, Orhan; Çengelli Unel, Cigdem; Karadeniz Saygili, Suna. (2025). The effects of the GLP1 analog liraglutide on allodynia and motor coordination in peripheral neuropathy induced by a chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin.. Journal of molecular histology, 56(3), 153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-025-10440-4