Exploring the Role of the Descending Modulatory System in Cancer Pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Role of the Descending Modulatory System in Cancer Pain
IRAS ID
263005
Contact name
Maisie E Martland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Pain has a negative impact on the quality of life for people with cancer. Between 40-60% of all patients with cancer experience moderate to severe pain. This increases to more than 60% for people with advanced cancer. Currently we do not fully understand all the causes of pain in cancer patients. One potential cause could be the communication between the brain and spinal cord. This system is call descending modulation of pain. When this system is not working correctly it can cause people to feel more pain. We want to know if this is might be a cause of pain in people with cancer.
In this study, we will measure this descending pain control system using two tests. The first is called ‘conditioned pain modulation’ and measures how much the brain can slow down pain signals in the spinal cord. The second test is called ‘wind-up’ and measures how much the spinal cord can increase the pain signals that are reaching the brain.In this study, we will invite 3 groups of people:
•20 people without cancer and without pain (the control group)
•20 people with cancer but without any pain
•20 people with cancer who are living with pain.The participants will be recruited from St Gemma’s and Wheatfields hospices and invited to attend a one-off study visit at St Gemma’s Hospice lasting approximately 90 minutes. They will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and then they will be guided through the two tests by the trained researcher. Participants will be able to stop the tests at any point, without giving a reason if they wish. We hope that this study will help us to better understand the causes of pain in people with cancer. This will help doctors and nurses to manage cancer pain better.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0008
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion