NCT03219502

Brief Summary

This trial studies how well repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) works in improving neuropathy due to oxaliplatin chemotherapy in patients with stage I-IV cancer. rTMS is designed to change brain activity by introducing small magnetic impulses to the scalp that encourage the brain to change its activity.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
56

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
12mo left

Started Jul 2017

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress90%
Jul 2017Apr 2027

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 10, 2017

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 11, 2017

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 17, 2017

Completed
9.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 30, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 30, 2027

Last Updated

October 14, 2025

Status Verified

October 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

9.8 years

First QC Date

July 11, 2017

Last Update Submit

October 10, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in perceptions of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)

    Differences between repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and placebo (PC) and between rTMS and wait-list control (WLC) will be assessed by Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS). Will conduct two-sample t-tests, subtracting post-intervention scores from pre-intervention scores at each post-intervention time point. The Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) is a 20-item measure developed to quantify quality and intensity of neuropathic pain. It was derived from the Neuropathic Pain Scale and includes symptom descriptors common to people with neuropathic symptoms.\[44\] Our primary outcome will be the 'unpleasantness subscale'.

    Baseline up to 1 month

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Change in cortical activity

    Baseline up to 1 month

  • Change in perception of improvement in CIPN as assessed by Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGIC) questionnaire

    Baseline up to 1 month

  • Change in perception of improvement in CIPN as assessed by Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaire

    Baseline up to 1 month

  • Change in perception of improvement in CIPN as assessed by Brief Pain Inventory-short form (BPI) questionnaire

    Baseline up to 1 month

  • Change in perception of improvement in CIPN as assessed by Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ)

    Baseline up to 1 month

Study Arms (3)

Group I (rTMS)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients undergo rTMS over 30 minutes for 10 sessions over 10 business days.

Other: Quality-of-Life AssessmentOther: Questionnaire AdministrationProcedure: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Group II (sham rTMS)

SHAM COMPARATOR

Patients undergo sham rTMS over 30 minutes for 10 sessions over 10 business days.

Other: Quality-of-Life AssessmentOther: Questionnaire AdministrationProcedure: Sham Intervention

Group III (standard of care)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients receive standard of care.

Other: Best PracticeOther: Quality-of-Life AssessmentOther: Questionnaire Administration

Interventions

Receive standard of care

Also known as: standard of care, standard therapy
Group III (standard of care)

Ancillary studies

Also known as: Quality of Life Assessment
Group I (rTMS)Group II (sham rTMS)Group III (standard of care)

Ancillary studies

Group I (rTMS)Group II (sham rTMS)Group III (standard of care)

Undergo rTMS

Also known as: rTMS
Group I (rTMS)

Undergo sham rTMS

Group II (sham rTMS)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients with stage I-IV cancers who received oxaliplatin chemotherapy
  • Understand and read English, sign a written informed consent, and be willing to follow protocol requirements
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 - 2
  • Grade 2 or higher neuropathic symptoms according to the National Cancer Institute's 4 point grading scale
  • Neuropathic symptoms must be related to chemotherapy (in the opinion of the treating physician)
  • Patients must have neuropathic symptoms for a minimum of 3 months
  • No plans to change the type of pain medication (if a patient is on pain medication)
  • Willing to come to MD Anderson for the therapy sessions

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients who are taking any antipsychotic medications
  • Patients who have evidence of brain metastases or any with any active central nervous system (CNS) disease at their time of entry into the trial
  • Patients who have ever been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
  • Patients who have a history of head injury, focal brain lesions, or known seizure activity
  • Patients who are withdrawing from drugs
  • Patients with intracranial implants or a cardiac pacemaker or any device that is not considered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe. Colorectal patients are sometimes prescribed Tramadol to help control the symptoms of CIPN. Tramadol does lower the seizure threshold, however these patients will be considered eligible for the study if they discontinue the drug 48 hours before the baseline and do not use it during the duration of the study

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Location

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Interventions

Practice Guidelines as TopicStandard of CareTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Guidelines as TopicQuality Assurance, Health CareQuality of Health CareHealth Services AdministrationHealth Care Quality, Access, and EvaluationQuality Indicators, Health CareMagnetic Field TherapyTherapeutics

Study Officials

  • Sarah Prinsloo

    M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 11, 2017

First Posted

July 17, 2017

Study Start

July 10, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2027

Last Updated

October 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Locations