Music may soothe pain at the genetic level after cancer surgery

NCT ID NCT07653594

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 06, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study explores whether a personalized music therapy session, called music-assisted relaxation and imagery (MARI), can reduce pain and change gene activity in people recovering from open surgery for stomach, pancreas, bile duct, liver, or peritoneal cancer. Participants will receive a 30-minute live guitar session with guided imagery on the day after surgery and at another time they choose. Researchers will collect blood samples before and after the therapy to look for changes in gene expression linked to pain relief.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Music-assisted relaxation and imagery (MARI)
What this could lead to
If this approach works, it could offer a drug-free way to manage pain after major cancer surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a very small pilot study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It is designed to test feasibility, not prove effectiveness.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

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