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CompletedNCT02722434Updated Jan 12, 2022Results posted

MC5-A Scrambler Therapy or TENS Therapy in Treating Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

An interventional study of Laboratory Biomarker Analysis and MC5-A Scrambler Therapy in Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy and Tingling, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-01-12.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This randomized clinical trial studies how well MC5-A scrambler therapy or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy work in treating patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (a nerve problem that causes pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness in different parts of the body). MC5-A scrambler therapy is a type of treatment for nerve pain that uses electrodes placed on the skin, where electricity is carried from the electrodes through the skin and blocks the pain. TENS is a procedure in which mild electric currents are applied to some areas of the skin. It is not yet known whether TENS therapy is more effective than MC5-A scrambler therapy in treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate the efficacy of scrambler therapy (MC5-A scrambler therapy) compared to TENS therapy for pain and/or tingling related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

II. Evaluate the tolerability of scrambler therapy and compare it to TENS therapy, in this population.

III. Evaluate whether scrambler therapy, compared to TENS therapy, can decrease the use of pain medication for CIPN.

IV. Explore whether messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) gene expression before and after scrambler therapy shows similar findings to what Starkweather et al observed.

V. Utilizing high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to define alterations in functional differences (using resting state blood-oxygen-level dependent [BOLD] measures to measure differences in functional connectivity) in treated with the scrambler device in the setting of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy pain.

VI. Explore whether scrambler therapy will alter sensation.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

ARM I: Patients undergo MC5-A scrambler therapy over 30 minutes for 10 consecutive weekdays.

ARM II: Patients undergo TENS therapy over 30 minutes daily for 14 days.

Patients in both Arms, may crossover to the opposite Arm for an additional 2 weeks of treatment if they elect.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up weekly for 8 weeks.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pain
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Tingling
03

In context

Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

1,003 studies on the registry are indexed under Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; 177 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 50 is below the median of 60 across 768 interventional studies indexed under Peripheral Nervous System Diseases.

Browse Peripheral Nervous System Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Mayo Clinic is the lead sponsor of 3,218 studies on the registry; 670 are open to participants now.

Of its 445 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 313 (70%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Pain or symptoms of CIPN of >= 3 months duration, for which the patient wants intervention

    • Note: neurotoxic chemotherapy must have been completed >= 3 months prior to registration and there must be no further planned neurotoxic chemotherapy for > 5 months after registration
  • Patients have to relate that tingling or pain was at least a four out of ten problem =\< 7 days prior to registration, on a 0-10 scale where zero was no problem and ten was the worst possible problem

    • Note: the patient is expected to have tingling or pain of at least 4/10 at the time of the first treatment
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) = 0, 1, or 2
  • Life expectancy >= 6 months
  • Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance
  • Ability to provide informed written consent
  • Case review by the study chair, or designate, as a case where treatment should be tried

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any of the following:

    • Pregnant women
    • Nursing women
    • Women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception
  • Existing operational implantable drug delivery systems, e.g. Medtronic Synchromed
  • Existing implantable medical electronic devices, life-supporting medical devices, and medical monitoring devices

    • Note: metal implants for orthopedic repair, e.g. pins, clips, plates, cages, joint replacements are allowed as are central venous access devices
  • History of myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease within the past six months
  • History of epilepsy, brain damage, use of anticonvulsants for seizure prevention, concurrently using ketamine, symptomatic brain metastases
  • Skin conditions such as open sores that would prevent proper application of the electrodes
  • Other medical or other condition(s) that in the opinion of the investigators might compromise the objectives of the study
  • Currently receiving gabapentin or pregabalin and not willing to be weaned off of these medications prior to Scrambler therapy initiation

    • Note: it is OK to continue these medications in patients who are receiving TENS
  • History of peripheral neuropathy prior to receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy
  • Prior treatment with Scrambler therapy
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
50 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Arm I (MC5-A scrambler therapy)

    Patients undergo MC5-A scrambler therapy over 30 minutes for 10 consecutive weekdays.

    Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Other: MC5-A Scrambler Therapy · Other: Questionnaire Administration

  • Active comparator
    Arm II (TENS therapy)

    Patients undergo TENS therapy over 30 minutes daily for 14 days.

    Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Other: Questionnaire Administration · Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Interventions

  • OtherLaboratory Biomarker Analysis

    Correlative studies

  • OtherMC5-A Scrambler Therapy

    Undergo Scrambler therapy

    Also known as: Scrambler Therapy

  • OtherQuestionnaire Administration

    Ancillary studies

  • OtherTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

    Undergo TENS

    Also known as: TENS, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Who Achieve at Least a 50% Reduction in Their Primary Problematic Symptom (Either Pain or Tingling) From Baseline on Day 14

    The number of participants who achieve at least a 50% reduction in their primary problematic symptom (either pain or tingling) from baseline on Day 14. The participant specified their primary problematic symptom (either pain or tingling) and primary problematic area (either upper or lower extremity) at registration; the respective items used to measure each symptom are considered for this outcome measure. Pain and tingling are measured using either item #6 (How much tingling have you had in your \[fingers or hands; toes or feet\] on average over the past 24 hours?) or item #9 (How much pain have you had in your \[fingers or hands; toes or feet\] on average over the past 24 hours?). Both items use the same scale: 0=None, 10=As bad as can be, with higher scores indicating worse outcome on either the Patient Questionnaire: Before Each Treatment for Upper Extremity Neuropathy or Patient Questionnaire: Before Each Treatment for Lower Extremity Neuropathy at baseline and Day 14.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 14

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Indicating Yes, No, or Unsure for Therapy Recommendation to Other Patients With Similar Problems on the Subjective Global Impression of Change Instrument

    The number of participants indicating 'Yes' for 'Therapy recommendation to other patients with similar problems' on the Subjective Global Impression of Change (SGIC) instrument. The SGIC questionnaire is used to assess the change in quality of life.

    Time frame: At 10 weeks

  2. Change in Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic Neuropathy Subscale Scores From Baseline to Week 10

    The change in Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic Neuropathy Subscale Scores from Baseline to Week 10 will be derived by subtracting the baseline score from the scores at Week 10. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module (EORTC QLQ CIPN-20) Instrument contains 20 items assessing sensory (9 items), motor (8 items), and autonomic symptoms (3 items), using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = "not at all," 2 = "a little," 3 = "quite a bit," and 4 = "very much"). The range of change in subscale scores is -3 to 3. With a total range for sensory being -27 to 27 and motor being -24 to 24 and autonomic being -9 to 9. With negatives meaning a decrease in neuropathy and positive being an increase.

    Time frame: Up to 10 weeks

  3. Number of Participants Using Acetaminophen as Pain Medication

    The number of participants using acetaminophen as pain medication is reported below.

    Time frame: Up to 10 weeks

Other outcomes

  1. Change in mRNA Gene Expression

    In a descriptive manner, the gene expression will be compared to what was previously reported by Starkweather et al.

    Time frame: Baseline to up to 10 weeks

  2. Change in Functional MRI (fMRI)

    Changes in fMRI following Scrambler therapy will be described in the subset of patients selected for this component of the study.

    Time frame: Baseline to up to 10 weeks

  3. Change in Sensation

    Descriptive statistics will be used for the data from Quantitative Sensory Testing.

    Time frame: Baseline to up to 10 weeks

07

Results

Posted Jan 12, 2022

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
Started2525
Started treatment2425
Completed2422
Not completed13
Withdrew: Withdrawal prior to beginning treatment10
Withdrew: Withdrawal after beginning treatment03

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants Who Achieve at Least a 50% Reduction in Their Primary Problematic Symptom (Either Pain or Tingling) From Baseline on Day 14

The number of participants who achieve at least a 50% reduction in their primary problematic symptom (either pain or tingling) from baseline on Day 14. The participant specified their primary problematic symptom (either pain or tingling) and primary problematic area (either upper or lower extremity) at registration; the respective items used to measure each symptom are considered for this outcome measure. Pain and tingling are measured using either item #6 (How much tingling have you had in your \[fingers or hands; toes or feet\] on average over the past 24 hours?) or item #9 (How much pain have you had in your \[fingers or hands; toes or feet\] on average over the past 24 hours?). Both items use the same scale: 0=None, 10=As bad as can be, with higher scores indicating worse outcome on either the Patient Questionnaire: Before Each Treatment for Upper Extremity Neuropathy or Patient Questionnaire: Before Each Treatment for Lower Extremity Neuropathy at baseline and Day 14.

Time frame:
Baseline to Day 14
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Who Achieve at Least a 50% Reduction in Their Primary Problematic Symptom (Either Pain or Tingling) From Baseline on Day 14
ParticipantsArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
Number of Participants Who Achieve at Least a 50% Reduction in Their Primary Problematic Symptom (Either Pain or Tingling) From Baseline on Day 14105
Statistical analysis
  • Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy) vs Arm II (TENS Therapy) · Chi-squared · p = 0.1228
SecondaryNumber of Participants Indicating Yes, No, or Unsure for Therapy Recommendation to Other Patients With Similar Problems on the Subjective Global Impression of Change Instrument

The number of participants indicating 'Yes' for 'Therapy recommendation to other patients with similar problems' on the Subjective Global Impression of Change (SGIC) instrument. The SGIC questionnaire is used to assess the change in quality of life.

Time frame:
At 10 weeks
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Indicating Yes, No, or Unsure for Therapy Recommendation to Other Patients With Similar Problems on the Subjective Global Impression of Change Instrument
ParticipantsArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
Yes167
No07
Unsure53
Statistical analysis
  • Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy) vs Arm II (TENS Therapy) · Fisher Exact · p = 0.004
SecondaryChange in Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic Neuropathy Subscale Scores From Baseline to Week 10

The change in Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic Neuropathy Subscale Scores from Baseline to Week 10 will be derived by subtracting the baseline score from the scores at Week 10. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module (EORTC QLQ CIPN-20) Instrument contains 20 items assessing sensory (9 items), motor (8 items), and autonomic symptoms (3 items), using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = "not at all," 2 = "a little," 3 = "quite a bit," and 4 = "very much"). The range of change in subscale scores is -3 to 3. With a total range for sensory being -27 to 27 and motor being -24 to 24 and autonomic being -9 to 9. With negatives meaning a decrease in neuropathy and positive being an increase.

Time frame:
Up to 10 weeks
Reported as:
Median · score on a scale
Change in Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic Neuropathy Subscale Scores From Baseline to Week 10
score on a scaleArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
Sensory Subscale-0.4 (-2.4 to 0.1)-0.6 (-1.4 to 0.3)
Motor Subscale-0.1 (-1.5 to 0.5)-0.3 (-1.7 to 0.3)
Autonomic Subscale0.0 (-1.0 to 0.3)0.0 (-1.0 to 0.5)
Statistical analysis
  • Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy) vs Arm II (TENS Therapy) · Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) · p = 0.79
  • Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy) vs Arm II (TENS Therapy) · Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) · p = 0.43
  • Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy) vs Arm II (TENS Therapy) · Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) · p = 0.97
SecondaryNumber of Participants Using Acetaminophen as Pain Medication

The number of participants using acetaminophen as pain medication is reported below.

Time frame:
Up to 10 weeks
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants Using Acetaminophen as Pain Medication
ParticipantsArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
Number of Participants Using Acetaminophen as Pain Medication89
Other pre-specifiedChange in mRNA Gene Expression

In a descriptive manner, the gene expression will be compared to what was previously reported by Starkweather et al.

Time frame:
Baseline to up to 10 weeks

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Other pre-specifiedChange in Functional MRI (fMRI)

Changes in fMRI following Scrambler therapy will be described in the subset of patients selected for this component of the study.

Time frame:
Baseline to up to 10 weeks

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Other pre-specifiedChange in Sensation

Descriptive statistics will be used for the data from Quantitative Sensory Testing.

Time frame:
Baseline to up to 10 weeks

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Adverse events

Collected over Up to 10 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)
Arm II (TENS Therapy)0/25 (0%)0/25 (0%)1/25 (4%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventArm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)
FractureInjury, poisoning and procedural complications0/241/25

Baseline characteristics

All Participants

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)Total
Median61.0 (30.0 to 82.0)61.0 (52.0 to 77.0)61.0 (30.0 to 82.0)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)Total
Female171734
Male8816
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)Total
American Indian or Alaska Native011
Asian000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American303
White212445
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported101
ECOG Performance Status
ECOG Performance Status(Participants)Arm I (MC5-A Scrambler Therapy)Arm II (TENS Therapy)Total
0151429
191019
2112
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Mayo Clinic
    Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Childs DS, Le-Rademacher JG, McMurray R, Bendel M, O'Neill C, Smith TJ, Loprinzi CL. Randomized Trial of Scrambler Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Crossover Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Jun;61(6):1247-1253. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.11.025. Epub 2020 Nov 27. PubMed 33249081 ↗
  • Cathcart-Rake EJ, Hilliker DR, Loprinzi CL. Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: Central resolution of a peripherally perceived problem? Cancer. 2017 Jun 1;123(11):1898-1900. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30650. Epub 2017 Mar 3. No abstract available. PubMed 28257145 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Aug 12, 2016

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 12, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02722434
Lead sponsor
Mayo Clinic
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 30, 2016
Start date
Apr 13, 2016
Primary completion
Sep 1, 2017
Completion
Aug 26, 2021
Results posted
Jan 12, 2022
Last update
Jan 12, 2022

Study contacts

Charles Loprinzi
principal investigator · Mayo Clinic

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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