Who is eligible for clinical trial NCT02979574?

Participants must meet protocol criteria for Chronic Pain. Confirm exact inclusion and exclusion requirements with the study coordinator.

Does clinical trial NCT02979574 provide travel or cost reimbursement?

Check with the site coordinator at the participating facility for travel and lodging stipend availability, and for which routine-care costs are covered.

🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2025-12-02

PEACE: Comparing Chronic Pain Treatment Options (NCT02979574)

🔵 Active, Not Recruiting Observational / Diagnostic ⚙️ Medical Device Protocol Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

The purpose of this study is to compare two types of acupuncture with usual care on treating chronic pain. This study has three groups. Two groups will received acupuncture. One group will receive usual standard of care for 12 weeks and then will receive acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique of using very thin needles inserted in the skin to treat different symptoms and illness, and to promote healing. Each group will undergo a different method of needle administration.

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (7 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (7 items).

Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge — Basking Ridge, New Jersey

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

English speaking
Age \>/= 18 years or older
Having musculoskeletal pain, defined as regional (joints, extremities, back, neck) or more generalized (fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain)
Having a pain rating of 4 or greater in worst pain on a 1-10 numerical rating scale in the preceding week (Patients with a neuropathic component to their pain that involves the extremities or back will be eligible)
Having had pain for at least 3 months and at least 15 days with pain in the preceding 30 days
A diagnosis of cancer with no restrictions placed on type of cancer, other than that patients with metastatic disease will be excluded. Eligibility criteria are not restricted to MSK confirmed biopsy/diagnosis. Participating institution's testing is sufficient for other study sites.
Complete active treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy) at least one month prior to study initiation (patients on continued hormone treatment will not be excluded).

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

Exclusion Criteria:
Have non-musculoskeletal pain syndromes (headache, facial pain, chest pain, visceral abdominal pain) if these are the sole source of pain, but can be present as co-morbid conditions as long as a patient has a primary musculoskeletal pain condition defined s above.
Inflammatory arthritis that require disease modifying drugs (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
Phantom limb pain
Patients with a history of metastatic cancer who are not currently NED
Have a pending pain-related VA or social security or worker's comp disability claim by self-report
Have an implanted electronically charged medical device

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (7 Sites)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge — Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth — Middletown, New Jersey
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen — Montvale, New Jersey
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack — Commack, New York
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester — Harrison, New York
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — New York, New York
Memorial Sloan Kettering Rockville Centre — Rockville Centre, New York

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗