Effectiveness of Acupuncture Treatment on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot, Randomized, Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods. This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial, which was conducted with cooperation between Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), China, and Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), Iran. Forty participants with CIPN were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to receive twelve sessions of acupuncture (20 minutes each session over 4 weeks) or take one 300 mg tablet of vitamin B1 and three 300 mg capsules of gabapentin per day for 4 weeks, after which both groups were followed up for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was CIPN symptom severity measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The secondary endpoints included sensory neuropathy grade evaluated by the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), neurophysiological assessment of CIPN by the nerve conduction study (NCS), and the patient overall satisfaction with treatment. Safety was assessed at each visit. Results. The NRS and NCI-CTCAE sensory neuropathy grading scales decreased significantly over time in both groups (both P<0.001), with a significantly higher reduction in the acupuncture group (P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively). In addition, the acupuncture group showed a higher overall satisfaction with the treatment at the end of treatment and after 4 weeks follow-up, in comparison with the vit B1 and gabapentin group (P=0.01 and P=0.001, respectively). The NCS (except for the latency of the sural nerve) in the acupuncture group improved significantly (P<0.05), while improvement in the vit B1 and gabapentin group was not observed (P>0.05). Conclusion. Our study revealed that acupuncture, as a kind of traditional Chinese therapeutic method, is significantly effective and safe in the treatment of CIPN. Moreover, acupuncture is more effective than using vitamin B1 and gabapentin as the conventional treatment. Trial registration. This trial is registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190615043900N1).

PAC1 Receptor Mediates Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuro and Immune Protection During Cisplatin Chemotherapy

“…According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture at ST36 and SP6 have the effect of tonifying blood. Several studies show that stimulation of these two acupoints protects against chemotherapy induced anemia, leukopenia, and other peripheral neuropathies (67)(68)(69)(70)(71). Our results show that EA ST36 and SP6 inhibited the most detrimental effects of cisplatin in normal and cancer mice.…”

Impact of acupuncture and integrative therapies on chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy: A multicentered, randomized controlled trial

“…The research to date on the effectiveness of CIM for CIPN‐related symptoms has been focused primarily on postchemotherapy acupuncture as a single modality, assessing only subjective outcome measures. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for this indication is compelling 12–14 . Acupuncture activates A‐β, A‐δ, and C afferent fibers, with signals ascending through the spinal ventrolateral column to the sensory‐motor cortex of the brain 15 .…”

Acupuncture Treatment of Guillain–Barré Syndrome After Using Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Case Report

“…We believe that acupuncture at these acupoints may regulate the gut–brain axis by stimulating the conception vessel to achieve immune regulation and neuroprotection effects. In addition, previous studies have shown that acupuncture at Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) can alleviate the symptoms of limb numbness effectively ( 44 ). However, the specific mechanism is not precise.…”