NCT07159100

tDCS for Cancer-Related Fatigue and Weakness

Neuromodulation as a Therapeutic Intervention to Improve Cancer Related Fatigue and Weakness

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 75 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Kessler Foundation · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This pilot study investigates the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS) in alleviating cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and muscle weakness. Using a randomized, double-blind crossover design, participants perform fatiguing muscle tasks with and without tDCS, and outcomes include task endurance, maximal voluntary contraction force, and neuromuscular markers. Neural mechanisms will be assessed via EEG, TMS, and MRI.

Conditions

• Cancer-related Fatigue
• Neuromodulation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Active tDCS + elbow flexion exercise	Participants will receive anodal tDCS targeting motor-related cortical areas using either traditional sponge-based or high-definition (HD)-tDCS configurations. The intervention is delivered at 1.5-2.0 mA for 20-30 minutes, either before or during a sustained submaximal isometric contraction task designed to induce fatigue. tDCS will be administered in a counterbalanced crossover design, where each participant completes both active stimulation and sham stimulation conditions in separate sessions spaced at least one week apart. Sham stimulation mimics the sensory effects of active tDCS (30-second ramp-up and down) without delivering sustained current. The intervention is unique as the target population is cancer survivors with persistent fatigue \>6 months post-treatment. Also, the tDCS is combined with neurophysiological assessments, including EMG, TMS, EEG, and MRI, to provide neurophysiological evidence of acute effects.
DRUG	Sham tDCS + elbow flexion exercise	Participants will receive anodal tDCS targeting motor-related cortical areas using either traditional sponge-based or high-definition (HD)-tDCS configurations. The intervention is delivered at 1.5-2.0 mA for 30 seconds to mimic the sensation of active tDCS (20 minutes long), either before or during a sustained submaximal isometric contraction task designed to induce fatigue. tDCS will be administered in a counterbalanced crossover design, where each participant completes both active stimulation and sham stimulation conditions in separate sessions spaced at least one week apart. Sham stimulation mimics the sensory effects of active tDCS (30-second ramp-up and down) without delivering sustained current.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-10
• Primary completion: 2027-08-31
• Completion: 2027-12-31
• First posted: 2025-09-08
• Last updated: 2025-09-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study