Roswell Park Study Shows Virtual Reality and Brain Imaging Could Transform Cancer Pain Management
April 11, 2025 · News Release
Researchers at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have unveiled a promising approach to managing cancer-related pain by combining non-invasive brain imaging with virtual reality (VR) therapy. The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests this method could reduce reliance on opioids and enhance patient quality of life.
Led by Dr. Somayeh Besharat Shafiei, Assistant Professor of Oncology, and Dr. Oscar de Leon-Casasola, Chief of Pain Medicine, the research team employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to objectively measure pain levels. This technique uses a head cap with optical sensors to detect changes in blood oxygenation, enabling the identification of brain-based biomarkers corresponding to varying pain intensities.
The study involved 147 participants:
- 13 healthy individuals who wore fNIRS head caps for 10 minutes.
- 93 cancer patients experiencing pain, also wearing fNIRS head caps for 10 minutes.
- 41 cancer patients who, in addition to the fNIRS head caps, used VR headsets displaying immersive underwater scenes for a total of 29 minutes—10 minutes before VR, 9 minutes during, and 10 minutes after.
Among the cancer patients who experienced the VR intervention, over 75% reported a significant decrease in pain, surpassing the clinically relevant threshold of 30%. Brain imaging indicated that VR influenced both cognitive and emotional aspects of pain perception.
"This study signals a new era in precision medicine where neuroimaging and digital therapeutics revolutionize pain assessment and treatment," said Dr. Besharat Shafiei. She emphasized that approximately 60-80% of cancer pain is inadequately managed, and this combined approach could reshape clinical protocols, reduce opioid dependence, and improve outcomes for millions globally.
The research team included members from Roswell Park and the University of Guelph in Ontario, reflecting a collaborative effort to advance non-pharmacological pain management strategies.
For more information, please refer to the full study in Scientific Reports.
