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NCT Number: NCT06949618

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cancer Pain Management

Over half of cancer patients experience cancer-related pain. Despite advances in pain management with opioids, many patients continue to suffer from chronic cancer pain. The underlying mechanisms of cancer-related pain remain poorly understood, but they may be linked to brain neuroplasticity. As a result, some researchers suggest that targeting the motor cortex in cancer patients could improve pain management. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of remodeling neuroplasticity with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to reduce cancer-related pain. To validate the use of rTMS in cancer-related pain, we plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial involving 30 cancer pain patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either rTMS or sham rTMS treatment. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and pain index assessments will be conducted before and after the treatment to evaluate the outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Cancer Neoplasms Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

20 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients have cancer pain symptoms, confirmed by a physician as cancer pain or neuropathic cancer pain
  • Experienced the worst pain NRS score ≥ 4
  • The patient demonstrate good cognition and is able to cooperate with the assessment of pain severity.
  • The estimated survival time exceeds 3 months.
  • Pre-existing bisphosphonate, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy regimens remained unchanged throughout the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Individuals who have undergone head surgery or have metal implants in the head.
  • Individuals with implanted cardiac pacemakers or cochlear prostheses.
  • Have a history of epilepsy.
  • Patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors or metastatic brain lesions.
  • Present with additional neurological, psychiatric, or severe medical disorders.
  • Individuals with metallic implants located in the cranial or cervical regions.
  • Women who are pregnant.
  • Presence of acute pain in any body region attributable to other medical conditions. -

Treatment and study plan

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Device

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation toward for cancer pain (real and sham control)

Primary outcomes

  1. Brief Pain Inventory, BPI

    Time frame: Assess the BPI outcome before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    BPI is to assess the severity of pain and the impact of pain on daily functions, including Severity of pain, impact of pain on daily function, location of pain, pain medications and amount of pain relief in the past 24 hours.

  2. McGill Pain Questionnaire

    Time frame: Assess MPQ scores before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) is a self-report measure used by patients with various diagnoses to assess pain. It consists of 78 words, from which respondents select those that best describe their pain experience. The words are categorized as follows:

    Dimensions 1 to 10 (pain descriptors): 3 words

    Dimensions 11 to 15 (affective components of pain): 3 words

    Dimension 16 (evaluation of pain): 1 word

    Dimensions 17 to 20 (miscellaneous): 1 word.

    Scores are calculated by summing the values associated with each selected word, with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 78 (severe pain). Qualitative differences in pain are reflected in the respondent's word choices.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Numerical Rating Scale, NRS

    Time frame: Assess the NRS scale before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is commonly used to measure pain intensity and is well validated. It is scored from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable

  2. Visual Analogue Scale , VAS

    Time frame: Assess the VAS scale before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure of both acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum from 'no pain' to 'worst pain.'

  3. Resting-state functional imaging, rsfMRI

    Time frame: Assess the fMRI results before the intervention and after 2 weeks of interventions.

    In fMRI, by adding each pixel, the time course of a pixel is related to the average time course of the corresponding region of interest (ROI). In this context, the cross-correlation coefficient map for each seed ROI will be generated. This cross-correlation coefficient map will then undergo Fisher's z-transformation to approximate a normal distribution.

  4. Beck Depression Inventory, BDI

    Time frame: Assess the BDI scale before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    BDI is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. Each answer is being scored on a scale value of 0 to 3. Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.

  5. The 36-Item Short Form Survey quality of life

    Time frame: Assess the The SF-36 outcome before the intervention, after 1 week and 2 weeks of intervention, as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after the intervention is completed.

    The 36-Item Short Form Survey (It comprises 36 questions that cover eight domains of health) is an outcome measure instrument that is often used, well-researched, self-reported measure of health. It comprises 36 questions that cover eight domains of health.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chien-Hung Lai, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+886227372181 ext. 3242

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Taipei Medical University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Cancer Pain

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 29, 2025
Registry last updated
May 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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