Clinical Research Directory

Scrambler Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

This research study is for people who have a condition called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This condition develops as a result of receiving medication(s) to treat cancer, particularly chemotherapy. CIPN is characterized by pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensations, typically in the hands and feet of people. These symptoms can lead to physical suffering, limited ability to perform daily activities, and low quality of life. One of the ways to treat CIPN is using a device called Scrambler Therapy. Scrambler Therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 as a treatment for CIPN. The treatment involves electrical signals passing through wires attached to parts of the body via adhesive tabs near where symptoms of CIPN are experienced. A standard treatment course consists of 10 daily sessions lasting about one hour each. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a 10-day course of Scrambler Therapy on symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, day-to-day activities, overall quality of life, and use of pain medications. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive Scrambler Therapy. The other group will not receive it. Participants will not know which group they were in until after treatment has completed. Participants in the group who did not receive Scrambler Therapy will have the opportunity to receive it after one month. Participants will be in this research study about 12 to 14 months.

Efficacy and Safety of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Improving Nab-paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

The goal of this research is to assess whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy can alleviate the symptoms of Nab-paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy and improve patient-reported quality of life.

The Effect of Yoga on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy)

The purpose of this study is to test whether yoga can reduce nerve pain caused by cancer treatment (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN). Participants will take one of three approaches: * Yoga classes * Educational sessions on the causes and impacts of CIPN, how yoga may help with CIPN, and how different therapies may help with CIPN * Usual care with standard-of-care medications for CIPN The researchers will compare how these different approaches affect participants' balance, their risk of falls, and their quality of life. This study will also measure how much yoga can help the reduced sense of touch caused by CIPN. The functional assessments Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Chair to Stand (CTS) can be safely completed either virtually and in-person and will be mandatory for all patients. The functional assessment Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) assessments that can only be completed in-person are optional at these time points.

The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy)

This study is a randomized controlled trial of electroacupuncture (referred to as EA) versus sham acupuncture (referred to as EA) as effective treatments for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) pain in cancer survivors.

The Influence of Chemotherapy on Position Sense

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most prevalent side-effects of chemotherapy, causing sensory and motor symptoms in patients. CIPN development is especially prevalent in chemotherapy treatment involving platinum- and taxane-based agents. The accompanying pain and deficits greatly impact the quality of life of these patients. Currently, patients are assessed for altered somatosensory using quantitative sensory testing (QST). The German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS) has developed a standardized protocol which has been internationally recognized as approach for performing the QST. However, for proprioception the QST is limited to vibration assessments, making it limited as the only test to measure proprioception. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the proprioceptive functions is needed to better understand the influence CIPN has on the proprioception of patients, and thereby their quality of life. In this project the effects of chemotherapy on somatosensory and proprioceptive functioning of breast cancer patients will be assessed in a cross-sectional study. This will be tested by comparing two groups of breast cancer patients and a healthy control group. Both patient groups will have undergone surgery for breast cancer, however, only one group will be tested after undergoing additional chemotherapy treatment. Thereby, the effects of chemotherapy between the surgery-only patient group and the chemotherapy patient group can tested. Furthermore, the investigators will compare both patient groups to sex- and age-matched healthy controls.

Cryocompression for CIPN

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of using cooling therapy and pressure (cryocompression) to reduce peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting the nerves supplying the arms and legs (limbs) resulting in possible numbness, pain, and/or loss of motor function, that may occur as a result of taxane-based chemotherapy. The name of the device used in this research study is: -Paxman Limb Cryocompression System (PLCS)

Scrambler Therapy With Duloxetine-based Usual Care vs Duloxetine-based Usual Care for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

The investigators hypothesize that Scrambler therapy with duloxetine, compared to duloxetine-based usual care, will result in greater improvement in CIPN as measured by the BPI-Short Form. In addition, the investigators will further assess pain using the EORTC CIPN-20 and determine whether Scrambler therapy results in improved levels of function as measured with the PDQ, and a decreased need for opioid medications. Our primary objective is to investigate whether Scrambler therapy with duloxetine is superior to duloxetine-based usual care in achieving at least a 50% reduction in pain scores, when comparing the cross-sectionally measured "average" pain score at day 35 to the cross-sectionally measured "average" pain score at baseline.

Sensory Rehabilitation in Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

This study is a cross-over RCT evaluating the effectiveness of 3 sessions a week apart of explicit sensory retraining to the lower extremities in individuals with CIPN versus usual care. The primary outcome measures are TNAS for subjective symptoms, VAS for pain and TUG for mobility. Additional outcome measures are FABS for balance, sensory assessments - monofilaments for touch threshold, LEPT for proprioception, a home exercise log and a satisfaction questionnaire.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Mirogabalin and Duloxetine in Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in a Randomized Controlled Trial: a Quality of Life Study in Cancer Survivors

To conduct a two-arm, parallel, prospective, randomized controlled, open-label trial to compare the efficacy of the novel drug mirogabalin with the conventional treatment duloxetine in reducing pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). There will be a difference in pain reduction after 4 weeks of treatment between the mirogabalin group and the duloxetine group in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Participants will: * Take drug duloxetine or a mirogabalin every day for 4 weeks. * Visit the clinic once every 2 weeks for checkups and tests

Effects of Cryotherapy on Taxane-Induced Neuropathy in Patients With Breast Cancer

Due to well-proven survival benefit, paclitaxel and other taxane-based chemotherapies are first-line agents for both the adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and disabling side effect of taxane anticancer agents. No established strategy exists for CIPN prevention. This study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy for the prevention of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer in a prospective randomized controlled trial.