tDCS for Cancer-Related Fatigue and Weakness (NCT07159100) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingEarly Phase 1
tDCS for Cancer-Related Fatigue and Weakness
United States75 participantsStarted 2025-09-10
Plain-language 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.
Who can participate
Age range
40 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Aged 40-80
. Right Handed, as determined by the Edinburgh Inventory 21
. Proficient in English
. Must be available for the familiarization, and testing sessions
. Cancer (\>6 months post therapy)
. Suffers from a subjective feeling of cancer related fatigue and weakness as assessed by the following question: "Do you suffer from symptoms of fatigue and weakness related to your cancer or cancer treatment?"
. Have had cancer diagnosis and treatment in the past
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Fatigue task duration
Timeframe: Immediately post-intervention in each experimental session.
2
Muscle Strength
Timeframe: Immediately after each stimulation session
. Must have a stable physical/health condition for the past 3 months with no expected changes for the duration of the study
Exclusion criteria
. Neurological, psychiatric, musculoskeletal or other types of disorder not caused by cancer and/or cancer treatment, which may affect participants sensorimotor function and cognitive abilities
. No consciousness to understand and sign informed consent voluntarily
. History of alcohol, and illicit drug use
. History of smoking within the last 5 years.
. History of epilepsy or unprovoked seizures
. Family history of epilepsy (father, mother, children, siblings with diagnosis of epilepsy)
. Active migraine headaches
. Past or current history of treated tinnitus or severe hearing problems