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A Study Testing Topical Pain-Relieving Herbal Plasters for Cancer Pain

This study is looking into whether Tibetree pain-relieving herbal plasters (PRPs) can help manage localized pain (pain in a specific area) for people with cancer who are already using opioid medications. Researchers want to see if these plasters, applied once a day for up to 8 hours daily for 7 days, are practical and effective when added to standard opioid therapy. You may be able to join if you are 18 or older, speak English, have a cancer diagnosis (current or past), and are able to walk around. The study aims to understand how many people enroll, how well they stick to the treatment, and how many complete assessments over two years. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 150 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will receive topical herbal plasters once a day for up to 8 hours daily for 7 days.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study will measure enrollment, treatment adherence, and assessment completion rates over two years.

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NCT07447856

A Study Testing Topical Pain-Relieving Herbal Plasters in People Who Are Using Opioids for Their Pain

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
~150 participants
Updated 2026-03-04 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Topical herbal plaster

At a glance

Recruiting sites
7 of 7 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Enrollment rate
Measured over 2 years
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cancer Patients
Survivor Patients
Cancer Pain

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Where it's being run

7 sites across 2 states
New York4
New Jersey3

Study leadership

  • Jun Mao, MD, MSCE · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Who to contact

Jun Mao, MD, MSCE
[email protected]
646-888-0863
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

English speaking with age ≥ 18 years or older
A diagnosis of cancer with no restrictions placed on type of cancer or stage. Eligibility criteria will not be restricted to MSK confirmed biopsy/diagnosis. Outside institution's testing is sufficient.
Ambulatory (Karnofsky Performance Status of ≥ 60)
Having one of three types of pain (e.g., musculoskeletal pain, bone metastasis pain, and visceral/abdominal pain) and the worst pain area can be covered by one patch of topical herbal plaster
Worst pain score (measured by the 0-10 numeric pain rating scale) 4 or above in the preceding week
Current use of short-term oral opioids (i.e. oxycodone, morphine immediate release, or hydromorphone) for pain management.
Willingness to adhere to and understanding of all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of the two possible study arms
Able to understand informed consent and provide signed informed consent form

Exclusion

Patients are unwilling to reduce opioid use if their pain reduces
Patients have generalized musculoskeletal pain such as fibromyalgia as primary source of pain
Patients with clinician confirmed significant skin disorders such as severe eczema, psoriasis, severe xerosis, chronic dermatitis, or adhesive allergy.
Patients with open wounds, infections, skin trauma at skin overlying area of pain
Patients with documented history of skin sensitivity to adhesive or allergic reaction to other patches or topical analgesics
Patients with documented skin allergic reaction to plants or herbs
Patients who are unwilling to hold their current localized topical pain treatment (such as lidocaine patch) for the most severe pain site.
Patients who undergo initiation or change in pain management strategies within 1 week prior to enrollment, including oral analgesics (e.g., opioids, NSAIDs), medications that can significantly reduce pain (e.g., bisphosphonates, denosumab), or interventional procedures (e.g., nerve blocks, palliative radiation).
Patients who are planned to undergo initiation or change of the above pain management strategies in the 2 weeks following enrollment.
Patients who undergo initiation or change in standard cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) 1 week prior to enrollment.
Patients who are planned to undergo initiation or change of active cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) in the 2 weeks following enrollment.

What this trial measures

  • Enrollment rate2 years

    This is the proportion of patients who enroll in the study among those who are eligible and offered participation.

  • Treatment adherence rate2 years

    The treatment adherence rate is defined as the proportion of patients who are in the intervention period (both arms) who complete at least 5 of the 7 days of herbal plaster application.

  • Assessment completion rates2 years

    The proportion of randomized patients who complete the patient-reported assessments.

  • Treatment satisfactionday 7

    will be measured on Day 7 of the intervention period. Satisfaction will be measured using two questions with five-point Likert-type response scales to assess overall satisfaction with integrating the patch into their opioid pain management plan and their willingness to recommend it to other patients. Patients will be considered "satisfied" with the treatment if they respond as "Satisfied" or "Very satisfied" to the satisfaction item