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Table 5. Clinical Studies of Acupuncture: For Other Cancer-Related or Cancer Treatment–Related Symptomsa
Reference Citation(s)
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Type of Study
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Condition Treated
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No. of Patients: Enrolled; Treated; Controlb
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Strongest Benefit Reportedc
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Concurrent Therapy (Yes/No/ Unknown)d
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Level of Evidence Scoree
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[1] |
RCT |
Symptoms of weight loss, cough, thoracodynia, hemoptysis, fever, and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy |
76; 38 acupuncture; 38 no acupuncture |
Weight gain, symptom relief, fewer side effectsf |
No |
1iiC |
[35] |
Phase I pilot study |
Menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen |
15; 15 acupuncture; none |
Anxiety, depression, and somatic and vasomotor symptoms improvedg |
No |
3iiiC |
[35] |
Nonconsecutive case series, surveyed retrospectively |
Unspecified symptoms (including pain, xerostomia, hot flashes, nausea/loss of appetite) from cancer or cancer treatment |
79; 79 traditional Chinese acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, percutaneousnerve stimulation, Korean hand acupuncture, or Japanese scalp acupuncture; none |
60% showed at least 30% improvement |
Yes (standard medical therapies) |
3iiiC |
[36] |
Nonconsecutive case series |
Radiation rectitis in women treated for cervical cancer |
44; 44 acupuncture; none |
73% radiation rectitis cured: no blood or mucus for 15 days |
No |
3iiiC |
[39] |
Nonconsecutive case series |
Postoperative lower extremity lymphedema in women treated for gynecologic tumors |
24; 24 acupuncture and moxibustion; none |
Edema prevented or markedly reduced |
Unknown |
3iiiC |
[8] |
Nonconsecutive case series |
Xerostomia after radiation therapy in patients with cancer |
13; 13 acupuncture; none |
Symptoms improved |
Yes (not specified) |
3iiiC |
[8] |
Nonconsecutive case series |
Night sweats, hot flashes in patients with cancer |
6; 6 acupuncture; none |
Symptoms improved |
Yes (not specified) |
3iiiC |
[37] |
Case report
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Dysphonia after radiation therapy |
1; 1 acupuncture; none |
Voice recovered |
Unknown |
Not applicable |
[38] |
Case report |
Esophageal obstruction in patients with esophageal cancer |
2; 2 acupuncture; none |
Obstruction relieved and normal bowel movements restored |
Yes (not specified) |
Not applicable |
[44] |
Nonconsecutive case series |
Vasomotor symptoms for breast and prostate cancer |
194; 194; none |
79% showed 50% or greater reduction in hot flashes |
none |
3iiiC |
[41] |
RCT |
Pain/depression |
138; 93 acupuncture and massage; 45 usual care |
Increased pain relief/decreased depression |
Yes (usual care) |
1iiC |
[40] |
RCT |
Hot flashes in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors |
72; 42; 30 |
Reduction of hot flashes but no statistical difference between acupuncture and sham treatment |
Yes; SSRIs |
1iiC |
[43] |
RCT |
Cancer-related fatigue |
47; 31; 16 |
Improved fatigue levels |
None |
1iiC |
[42] |
RCT |
Hot flushes |
45; 27 EA; 18 hormone therapy |
Vasomotor symptoms improved |
Unknown |
1iiC |
EA = electroacupuncture; No. = number; RCT = randomized controlled trial; SSRIs = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
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aSee text and the NCI Dictionary for additional information and definition of terms.
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bNumber of patients treated plus number of patients control may not equal number of patients enrolled; number of patients enrolled equals number of patients initially considered by the researcher who conducted a study; number of patients treated equals number of enrolled patients who were given the treatment being studied AND for whom results were reported.
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cStrongest evidence reported that the treatment under study has anticancer activity or otherwise improves the well-being of cancer patients.
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dConcurrent therapy for symptoms treated (not cancer).
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eFor information about levels of evidence analysis and an explanation of the level of evidence scores, see Levels of Evidence for Human Studies of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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f
P < .001, versus baseline.
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g
P < .001, versus baseline.
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References
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Xia YQ, Zhang D, Yang CX, et al.: An approach to the effect on tumors of acupuncture in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. J Tradit Chin Med 6 (1): 23-6, 1986.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Niemtzow RC: Integration of complementary disciplines into the oncology clinic. Part I. Acupuncture. Curr Probl Cancer 24 (4): 184-93, 2000 Jul-Aug.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Porzio G, Trapasso T, Martelli S, et al.: Acupuncture in the treatment of menopause-related symptoms in women taking tamoxifen. Tumori 88 (2): 128-30, 2002 Mar-Apr.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Zhang ZH: Effect of acupuncture on 44 cases of radiation rectitis following radiation therapy for carcinoma of the cervix uteri. J Tradit Chin Med 7 (2): 139-40, 1987.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Yao W: Prof. Sheng Canruo's experience in acupuncture treatment of throat diseases with yan si xue. J Tradit Chin Med 20 (2): 122-5, 2000.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Feng RZ: Relief of oesophageal carcinomatous obstruction by acupuncture. J Tradit Chin Med 4 (1): 3-4, 1984.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Kanakura Y, Niwa K, Kometani K, et al.: Effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for lymphedema following intrapelvic lymph node dissection: a preliminary report. Am J Chin Med 30 (1): 37-43, 2002.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Deng G, Vickers A, Yeung S, et al.: Randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 25 (35): 5584-90, 2007.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Mehling WE, Jacobs B, Acree M, et al.: Symptom management with massage and acupuncture in postoperative cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Pain Symptom Manage 33 (3): 258-66, 2007.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Frisk J, Carlhäll S, Källström AC, et al.: Long-term follow-up of acupuncture and hormone therapy on hot flushes in women with breast cancer: a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter trial. Climacteric 11 (2): 166-74, 2008.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Molassiotis A, Sylt P, Diggins H: The management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: a randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 15 (4): 228-37, 2007.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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Filshie J, Bolton T, Browne D, et al.: Acupuncture and self acupuncture for long-term treatment of vasomotor symptoms in cancer patients--audit and treatment algorithm. Acupunct Med 23 (4): 171-80, 2005.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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