Duloxetine and Neurofeedback Training for the Treatment of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

December 29, 2025 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Optimizing Neurofeedback to Treat Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

This phase II trial investigates how well duloxetine and neurofeedback training work in treating patients with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Duloxetine is a type of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that increases the amount of certain chemicals in the brain that help relieve depression and peripheral neuropathy. Neurofeedback training is a type of therapy that uses an electroencephalograph (EEG) and a computer software program to measure brain wave activity and may help teach patients with peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) how to change their own brain waves to lower their feelings of neuropathy and help improve their overall quality of life. Giving duloxetine and neurofeedback training may work better in treating peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy compared to duloxetine or neurofeedback training alone.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine if the combination of duloxetine (DL) and neurofeedback (NFB) is superior to DL or NFB alone in treating chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the optimal number of neurofeedback sessions needed to result in long-term relief of CIPN in a large cohort of cancer survivors and across socioeconomic groups.

II. Examine baseline brain signatures as a predictor of response to neurofeedback (NFB) and to duloxetine and determine who will require more sessions of NFB to achieve relief of symptoms.

III. Examine if the combination of DL + NFB (than those getting DL or NFB alone) or a larger number of NFB sessions results in better improvements in cancer-related symptoms, physical functioning, and quality of life (QOL).

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive neurofeedback training over 1 hour each 3-5 times weekly for up to 5 weeks. Patients also receive duloxetine orally (PO) once daily (QD) for 5 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

GROUP II: Patients receive neurofeedback training session over 1 hour 3-5 times weekly for up to 5 weeks.

GROUP III: Patients receive duloxetine PO QD for 5 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 6 and 12 months.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
380

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Recruiting
        • M D Anderson Cancer Center
        • Contact:
          • Sarah Prinsloo
          • Phone Number: 713-563-9627
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sarah Prinsloo
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77026
        • Recruiting
        • Harris Health System (LBJ)
        • Contact:
          • HILARY Y. MA
          • Phone Number: 713-792-4171
        • Principal Investigator:
          • HILARY Y. MA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients must have the ability to 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
  • Pain score >= 4 on a 0-10 numeric pain scale and/or grade 1-4 neuropathic pain 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 had neuropathic symptoms for a minimum of 3 months
  • No plans to change pain medication regimen during the course of the study
  • Off active chemotherapy treatment for minimum of 3 months
  • Hormonal (e.g., tamoxifen or Arimidex, etc.) and targeted (Tarceva and Avastin, etc.) therapies allowed as long as they will be continued during the course of the study
  • Willing to come to one of the participating cancer centers for the therapy sessions; or willing to participate in the therapy sessions at their homes and live within a 45 minute drive of the main campuses; or can participate in the therapy sessions from MD Anderson regional care centers
  • If participants agree to the Remote Training Option, participants should be willing to receive equipment at their homes and to return the equipment to MDA in case of malfunction or completion of the study
  • If participants agree to the Remote Training Option, participants should be willing to download necessary software to their home computer
  • If participants agree to the Remote Training Option, participants should be willing to allow research staff remote access to their computer to run the neurofeedback program

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 peripheral neuropathy from causes other than chemotherapy
  • Patients who have a history of head injury or who have known seizure activity
  • Patients for whom any contraindications of DL are known
  • Patients with suicidal ideation
  • Patients who are already taking duloxetine for peripheral neuropathy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group I (neurofeedback training, duloxetine)
Patients receive neurofeedback training over 1 hour 3-5 times weekly for up to 5 weeks. Patients also receive duloxetine PO QD for 5 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Ancillary studies
Other Names:
  • Quality of Life Assessment
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Drug: Duloxetine
Given PO
Behavioral: Neurofeedback
Receive neurofeedback training
Other Names:
  • EEG biofeedback
Experimental: Group II (neurofeedback training)
Patients receive neurofeedback training over 1 hour 3-5 times weekly for up to 5 weeks.
Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Ancillary studies
Other Names:
  • Quality of Life Assessment
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Behavioral: Neurofeedback
Receive neurofeedback training
Other Names:
  • EEG biofeedback
Experimental: Group III (duloxetine)
Patients receive duloxetine PO QD for 5 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Ancillary studies
Other Names:
  • Quality of Life Assessment
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Ancillary studies
Drug: Duloxetine
Given PO

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) unpleasantness score
Time Frame: Baseline 5 up to week 10
The primary analysis will be a linear model comparing the mean difference in the change of the unpleasantness subscale of the (PQAS)Pain Quality Assessment Scale from baseline to the end of treatment (5 weeks) between the combination arm, the duloxetine (DL), and the neurofeedback (NFB) arm while adjusting for the stratification factor. Pain Quality Assessment Scale (0-10) 0-No pain-10 Most Intense Pain Imaginable.
Baseline 5 up to week 10

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in PQAS unpleasantness score
Time Frame: Baseline 5 up to week 10
Will use analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to evaluate whether chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) differs across the three subgroups with 0, 10 or 15 additional sessions of NFB, among the participants from the NFB + DL group who report at least 1-point clinical improvement in CIPN at week 5. The analysis will adjust for the baseline outcome (at week 5), time with CIPN symptoms (minimization factor), and other covariates such as age, sex, cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and cancer type, as appropriate. Pain Quality Assessment Scale (0-10) 0-No pain-10 Most Intense Pain Imaginable.
Baseline 5 up to week 10
Baseline brain signatures as predictors of response to NFB and to DL
Time Frame: Up to week 5
Will perform ANCOVA with the change of the unpleasantness subscale from baseline to week 5 (i.e., end of the first 15 sessions of NFB) as the outcome, intervention (NFB, DL or combo), the brain signature (one at a time) and its interaction with intervention as the independent variables of interest. Pain Quality Assessment Scale (0-10) 0-No pain-10 Most Intense Pain Imaginable.
Up to week 5
Evaluation of patients who will require more sessions of NFB to achieve relief of symptoms
Time Frame: Up to 12 months post-treatment
Linear mixed model (LMM) analyses will be performed using data measured at end of treatment, months 6 and 12 only on patients who report clinical improvement at week 5.
Up to 12 months post-treatment
Change in cancer-related symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment
ANCOVA and LMM analyses will be performed to evaluate the effect of the number of additional NFB sessions on cancer-related symptoms.
Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment
Change in physical functioning
Time Frame: Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment
ANCOVA and LMM analyses will be performed to evaluate the effect of the number of additional NFB sessions on physical functioning.
Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment
Change in quality of life
Time Frame: Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment
ANCOVA and LMM analyses will be performed to evaluate the effect of the number of additional NFB sessions on quality of life.
Baseline up to 12 months post-treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sarah Prinsloo, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 10, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 11, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 21, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 23, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 31, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 29, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2019-0712 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center)
  • NCI-2020-06553 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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