Novel electrical stimulation for the treatment of cancer pain

According to the "Global Atlas of Palliative Care" of the World Health Organization (WHO), 37.4 percent of deaths worldwide are associated with pain symptoms. The effective treatment of acute and chronic pain is therefore one of the top priorities of palliative care, especially for cancer patients. 

The new method is based on transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), in which weak electrical currents are passed through the scalp to influence the activity of nerve cells in the brain. 

Brain stimulation is carried out using a small, wireless brain stimulator that is applied without surgical intervention. Targeted electrical impulses are used to stimulate areas of the brain that are responsible for the sensation of pain. This method is currently being investigated in a study to determine whether it can reduce chronic pain in cancer patients when used at home. 

Prof. Andrea Antal, head of the "Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Lab" working group at the University Medical Center Göttingen, explains: "We want to use transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) to stimulate the areas of the patient's brain that are responsible for the sensation of pain and thereby eliminate the pain or reduce it to a minimum."

The "PAINLESS" project is coordinated by Prof. Maria Teresa Carrillo-de-la-Peña from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and has been funded by the European Union with six million euros since 2022. The study is currently underway in Germany, Spain and Switzerland, while Israel and Romania will follow shortly. A total of 19 partners from eight EU countries as well as Israel and Switzerland are involved in the project. 

In addition to testing the effect of electrical stimulation on cancer pain, the study is also investigating the identification of biomarkers. These markers are to be determined using electroencephalography (EEG) and could help to diagnose pain more precisely and adapt treatment to individual patients. 

A central aspect of the project is the possibility of home use. This should ensure that patients who do not live near a clinic can also benefit from the therapy.  

NeuroConn GmbH, a German company with many years of experience in the development of non-invasive brain stimulators, is also involved in the study. The aim is to develop a practicable solution that will benefit cancer patients worldwide. 

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: University Medical Center Göttingen