Neurofeedback in Decreasing Acute Radiotherapy-Induced Pain in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

NCT ID: NCT02543320

Last Updated: 2025-10-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

17 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-08-29

Study Completion Date

2027-04-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This pilot trial studies how well neurofeedback training works in decreasing acute radiotherapy-induced pain in patients with head and neck cancer. Neurofeedback training is a type of therapy that uses electroencephalograph and a computer software program to measure brain wave activity. Neurofeedback training may help teach patients ways to modify their own brain waves to decrease the perception of pain and improve quality of life.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the effects of an individualized LORETA (low resolution electromagnetic tomography) Z score neurofeedback program on changes in brain function using EEG (electroencephalography), qEEG (quantitative electroencephalography), and LORETA from immediately before to after each session in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy and experiencing pain.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Examine the effects of an individualized LORETA Z score neurofeedback program on perceptions of radiation-induced pain in head and neck cancer patients from immediately before neurofeedback training to immediately after neurofeedback training.

II. Identify brain regions from qEEG and LORETA that are associated with a non-pain state and then an acute pain state.

III. Examine the relationship between the patient and their spouse or primary caregiver.

OUTLINE:

Beginning at weeks 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 of radiotherapy, patients undergo neurofeedback training once per day (QID) three times per week (TIW) for up to 6 treatments. Patients also complete questionnaires over 10 minutes at baseline and after neurofeedback training.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 1 week.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Head and Neck Carcinoma

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Supportive care (neurofeedback)

Beginning at weeks 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 of radiotherapy, patients undergo neurofeedback training QID TIW for up to 6 treatments. Patients also complete questionnaires over 10 minutes at baseline and after neurofeedback training.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

LORETA Neurofeedback Training

Intervention Type OTHER

Undergo LORETA neurofeedback training

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

LORETA Neurofeedback Training

Undergo LORETA neurofeedback training

Intervention Type OTHER

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

LNFB Training LORETA Neurofeedback LORETA Z-score Neurofeedback Training LORETA Z-score NFT LORETA Z-score Training LORETA-EEG-NFB Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Neurofeedback Training LZNFT

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients must have the ability to understand and read English, sign a written informed consent, and be willing to follow protocol requirements
* Patients must not have pain \> 2 on a scale of 0 - 10 (self report) in the head and neck before starting radiotherapy
* Scheduled to undergo a 6 week course of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
* No plans to change the type of pain medication during the course of the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients who are taking any antipsychotic medications
* Patients with active central nervous system (CNS) disease, such as clinically-evident metastases or leptomeningeal disease, dementia, or encephalopathy
* Patients who have ever been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
* Patients with known, previously diagnosed head or neck pain from other pain syndromes or chronic pain requiring analgesics
* Patients with a history of seizure disorders
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Sarah Prinsloo

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

http://www.mdanderson.org

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

NCI-2017-00521

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2011-1102

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2011-1102

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Phase 2 Trial of Adaptive Radiotherapy Boost for HNSCC
NCT06137274 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING PHASE2