NCT06949618

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cancer Pain Management

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

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Taipei Medical University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Pain
• Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)	Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation toward for cancer pain (real and sham control)

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-20
• Primary completion: 2026-12-16
• Completion: 2026-12-30
• First posted: 2025-04-29
• Last updated: 2025-05-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan