Clinical Efficacy and Potential Mechanisms of Acupoint Stimulation Combined With Chemotherapy in Combating Cancer: A Review and Prospects

Abstract

Although chemotherapy is the first-line treatment strategy for a variety of tumors, its side effects have limited its efficacy. This review summarizes the progress on the use of acupoint stimulation to combat chemotherapy-associated side effects, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), cognitive impairment (CICI), and gastrointestinal toxicity (GI), as well as myelosuppression and immunosuppression. It was found that acupoint stimulation attenuated CIPN and GI by modulating the 5-hydroxytryptamine system in dorsal root ganglia, the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and the duodenum by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Acupoint stimulation also alleviated GI by activating vagal activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius and promoting the secretion of gastrointestinal neuropeptide hormones. Acupoint stimulation restored both bone marrow hematopoiesis and immune function to combat cancer. In addition, the combination of acupoint stimulation and chemotherapy could inhibit tumor growth by promoting tumor cell apoptosis and the enrichment of chemotherapeutic agents in tumor tissue and by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment and normalizing the vasculature. Multiple evidence also indicates that neuroimmune regulation may be involved in the effects of acupoint stimulation. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that acupoint stimulation can alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and can also assist chemotherapeutic agents in inhibiting tumor growth, which expands the clinical application of acupoint stimulation in cancer treatment. However, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to confirm the clinical value of acupoint stimulation.

Natural products modulate cell apoptosis: a promising way for treating endometrial cancer

“…Exploration of the combination NPs with classical chemotherapeutic agents may be a possible way to enhance the susceptibility of cancer cells. Moreover, a study ( Li et al, 2022 ) suggests that acupoint stimulation involves synergy with chemotherapy and can alleviate chemotherapeutic agents side effects.…”

Research progress on the immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture in tumor immune microenvironment

“…Studies demonstrated that acupuncture improved symptoms through systemic conditioning of meridians and acupoints ( 9 ). It achieved systemic or local responses by local acupuncture around superficial tumors ( 10 ). Additionally, it had a positive therapeutic impact on a range of immunological disorders linked to tumors and could significantly enhance the capacity to fight infections ( 11 ).…”

Diselenide-crosslinked nanogels laden with gold nanoparticles and methotrexate for immunomodulation-enhanced chemotherapy and computed tomography imaging of tumors

“…Among these immunosuppressive cells, TAMs represent the major tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations. 16–18 TAMs can be divided into M1-like and M2-like phenotypes, playing antitumor and protumor roles, respectively. Accumulating studies reveal that the TME usually has a predominate presence of M2-like TAMs that can lead to immunosuppression and chemoresistance.…”