One of the most harmful side effects of chemotherapy is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a common, painful, and disabling side effect of many chemotherapy agents for which there is no effective treatment. Our pilot phase IIB three-arm trial showed that acupuncture treatment is associated with reduced CIPN pain and improved tactile threshold compared to placebo and usual care control.
We aim to increase cancer patients' function and quality of life by identifying effective treatments to alleviate chemotherapy-related toxicities. The goal of the proposed project is to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in treating CIPN pain and improving function, as well as to improve sensory nerve recovery in cancer survivors suffering from moderate to severe CIPN pain. We will conduct a phase III, 250-patient, randomized, placebo (sham acupuncture)-controlled trial to: 1) determine the efficacy of an eight-week EA treatment on CIPN symptoms among cancer survivors with moderate to severe CIPN pain; 2) evaluate the effect of EA vs. SA on small sensory fiber function; and 3) evaluate whether baseline QST outcomes predict response to EA.
The findings from this study will help determine the efficacy of acupuncture on reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy pain when compared to placebo. It will also help evaluate acupuncture's effect on improving sensory nerve recovery and identify neurobiological markers to predict acupuncture's treatment effect. The study findings may contribute to identification of a non-pharmacological method to improve patients' quality of life and help personalize acupuncture treatment.
