Overview
- UC Irvine and University of Queensland researchers report in Cancer Research that inhibiting C5a–C5aR1 signaling prevented radiation-induced cognitive decline in mice.
- Both C5ar1 gene knockout and the small-molecule inhibitor PMX205 preserved learning and memory in healthy and tumor-bearing mice after cranial irradiation.
- Neuroinflammation and synaptic damage markers fell with C5aR1 blockade, indicating reduced microglial and astroglial activation and preserved neural connections.
- Radiation’s anti-tumor efficacy was not diminished by C5aR1 inhibition, with tumor control outcomes matching or occasionally exceeding radiation alone.
- The team plans studies using fractionated radiation, temozolomide combinations, and advanced mouse and patient-derived models to support translation toward clinical testing.