Could gene switches explain chronic pelvic pain?
NCT ID NCT05185180
First seen Aug 28, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026
Summary
Researchers are studying whether changes in gene activity, called epigenetic modifications, affect how the immune system behaves in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome. They will compare immune cells from healthy men and men with the condition to see if certain genes are turned on or off differently. The goal is to find out if these gene changes are linked to the exaggerated immune response seen in some patients. This study does not test a treatment; it aims to understand the underlying biology.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If this research succeeds, it could point toward new ways to diagnose or treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome by targeting the immune system's epigenetic changes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 11 participants, so the findings may not apply to everyone with the condition. It is observational, so it will not test any treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Oct 2021
- Finished
-
Mar 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
We hypothesize that aberrant immune regulation and/or activation due to epigenetic alterations in immune genes facilitate chronic pelvic pain. The objective of this aim is to expand on our preliminary data demonstrating epigenetic modifications in immune-related genes in CP/CPPS patients compared to healthy controls. To do so, we propose to recruit CP/CPPS patients and healthy volunteers to obtain peripheral blood and prostate secretions (EPS) for performing tailored methylation arrays on PBMC's, examination of functional consequences of immune alterations and finally correlation with patient symptoms.
- Ages
-
21 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Male participants only
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria for Control Group: • Healthy males ages 21-80 years old Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion Criteria for Control Group: * Females * Males \<21 and \>80 years old * Patients with impaired renal or hepatic function.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Chronic pelvic pain are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- WorkoutCPP: a pilot series of N-of-1 trials evaluating RL-Generated adaptive exercise recommendations for pelvic pain management
- Light therapy for pelvic pain: a 1,000-Patient registry seeks answers
- Light therapy inside the body: a new hope for chronic pelvic pain?
- Can needles quiet chronic pelvic pain?
- Pelvic floor therapy put to the test against endometriosis pain
- Pelvic floor muscle function may hold key to endometriosis pain