An interventional study of Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in Pain and Cancer, sponsored by Taipei Medical University Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-18.
Sponsored by Taipei Medical University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
10,054 studies on the registry are indexed under Pain; 1,649 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 66 across 8,493 interventional studies indexed under Pain.
Browse Pain studies →Taipei Medical University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 64 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Device: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Device: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation toward for cancer pain (real and sham control)
Brief Pain Inventory, BPI
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.
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.
McGill Pain Questionnaire
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.
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.
Numerical Rating Scale, NRS
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
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.
Visual Analogue Scale , VAS
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.'
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.
Resting-state functional imaging, rsfMRI
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.
Time frame: Assess the fMRI results before the intervention and after 2 weeks of interventions.
Beck Depression Inventory, BDI
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.
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.
The 36-Item Short Form Survey quality of life
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.
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.
Plan to share: No
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Taipei Medical University Hospital