Light Therapy for Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · Jun 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the use of light therapy to help childhood cancer survivors who have developed chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a condition that can cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the hands and feet after cancer treatment. The study aims to see if a six-week light therapy treatment that participants can do at home is acceptable and easy to follow. Researchers will also look at what helps or hinders the use of this therapy and will measure any changes in symptoms before and after the treatment.

To participate in this trial, individuals must have been diagnosed with childhood cancer before the age of 21 and be at least five years old now. They should have experienced symptoms of CIPN after receiving certain types of chemotherapy. However, the study cannot include those who are currently pregnant, have other specific health conditions, or who are unable to remain still for the duration of the treatment. If eligible, participants can expect to follow a simple light therapy routine at home and share their experiences to help researchers understand this treatment better.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • History of childhood cancer (\<21 years of age at diagnosis)
• • Current age five years or older (due to availability of validated measures for CIPN in this age group)
• • History of exposure to vinca alkaloid, platinum, or other chemotherapeutic agent that can cause CIPN
• • CIPN as assessed by a trained physical therapist defined as a score of four or higher on the ped-mTNS (for survivors \<18 years old at evaluation), or the mTNS (for survivors 18 years or older at evaluation)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Currently Pregnant or lactating (by patient report, at initiation or at any point of the study)
• • Inability to sit still for at least 15 minutes
• • Diagnosis of neuropathy prior to cancer treatment
• • Active cancer diagnosis or cancerous skin lesion
• • Central nervous system tumor (due to lack of validated measures for CIPN in this population)
• • Cancer lesion or open wound in the area to be treated, or any condition that can potentially be made worse by the correct or incorrect use of the device.