Patient-controlled transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for chronic cancer pain and quality of life
Clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Patient-Controlled Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation in Improving the Quality of Life for Patients With Chronic Cancer Pain
This test will see if a patient-controlled electrical acupoint stimulation device (PC-TEAS) can improve quality of life for adults with chronic cancer-related pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 290 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zhejiang, Hangzhou) |
| Trial ID | NCT07308951 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with histologically confirmed cancer and chronic cancer-related pain will receive either active PC-TEAS or a sham TEAS intervention while researchers track quality of life and pain-related outcomes over the treatment period. Outcomes include pain scores, analgesic consumption, emotional measures, spontaneous bowel movements, and adverse events to capture both efficacy and tolerability. The protocol supports home-based, patient-controlled use of the device to reflect real-world self-management. Findings aim to provide objective evidence on whether PC-TEAS can be a practical adjunct to usual care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–80 with histologically or cytologically confirmed primary or metastatic malignancy, chronic cancer-related pain (average NRS ≥2 in the past week or regular opioid use), ECOG performance status ≤2, and life expectancy ≥3 months are appropriate candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is not caused by cancer, those with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction or respiratory depression, individuals with implanted pacemakers or metallic implants at stimulation sites, or those unable to communicate or cooperate are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, PC-TEAS could offer a low-risk, home-administered option to reduce pain burden and improve quality of life while potentially lowering opioid needs.
How similar studies have performed: Related techniques such as TENS and acupoint electrical stimulation have produced mixed but sometimes positive results for pain and quality-of-life outcomes, while PC-TEAS specifically remains less extensively studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 80 years, regardless of gender; * Diagnosis of primary or metastatic malignant tumor confirmed by histopathology and/or cytology, consistent with the American Cancer Society criteria for malignancy; * Presence of cancer-related pain, defined as an average Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 2 over the preceding week or current regular use of opioid analgesics; * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months; * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) score ≤ 2, stable vital signs, clear consciousness, intact pain perception, unimpaired communication, ability to cooperate with study procedures and complete assessments; * Provision of signed informed consent by the patient or their legal guardian after comprehensive explanation of the study; Exclusion Criteria: * Pain not attributable to cancer; * Severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction or respiratory depression; * Implantation of cardiac pacemaker or metallic implants at stimulation sites; * Local skin lesions or conditions unsuitable for TEAS at the acupoint sites; * Severe psychiatric disorders or significant cognitive impairment; * Concurrent participation in other clinical trials that may interfere with the outcome evaluation of this study; * Previous history of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS);
Where this trial is running
Zhejiang, Hangzhou
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medicinal University — Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yi Liang, PhD
- Email: liangyiwww@126.com
- Phone: +86-571-86633328
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.