Acupressure for Cancer

Overseen By Jennifer Manggaard

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Non-cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 week

78 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if acupressure (also known as acupuncture without needles or pressure therapy) can reduce anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Acupressure involves applying pressure to specific points on the body and may improve well-being without medication. Participants will receive either real or "sham" (fake) acupressure to compare effects. The trial seeks participants who have cancer, are undergoing chemotherapy, and frequently experience anxiety. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore non-medication options for anxiety relief during chemotherapy.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on adding acupressure as a way to manage anxiety, so you may not need to stop your medications, but it's best to confirm with the trial organizers.

What prior data suggests that acupressure is safe for cancer patients?

Research has shown that acupressure is generally safe and well-tolerated, with very few reports of negative side effects. This makes it a low-risk option for managing anxiety in cancer patients. Acupressure involves gently pressing certain points on the body with fingers to relieve pain and improve well-being. Studies have found it effective in reducing anxiety in various situations, such as after surgery, suggesting it might also help lower anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy. For those considering joining a trial that includes acupressure, the safety information is reassuring. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, acupressure offers a non-invasive and holistic approach to managing symptoms. Researchers are excited about acupressure because it harnesses the body's natural healing abilities through targeted pressure points, potentially reducing side effects and improving quality of life without the use of drugs. The unique feature of self-administration also empowers patients, allowing them to take an active role in their care, which could enhance adherence and overall well-being.

What evidence suggests that acupressure might be an effective treatment for anxiety in cancer patients?

This trial will compare true acupressure with sham acupressure to evaluate their effects on cancer-related anxiety. Research has shown that acupressure can lower anxiety in various situations, such as post-surgery. This non-invasive technique does not involve surgery or needles. It works by pressing specific points on the body to promote relaxation and well-being. Studies have found that methods like acupuncture and acupressure can be as effective as medication for treating cancer-related depression, which often accompanies anxiety. Acupressure is generally well tolerated, with few side effects, making it a safe choice for managing anxiety. Although specific data on using acupressure for chemotherapy-related anxiety is limited, its overall success in reducing anxiety is promising for this application. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer patients experiencing anxiety during chemotherapy. It's exploring if acupressure, a non-invasive pressure technique, can help manage their symptoms. Participants should be interested in non-medication treatments and willing to learn self-administered techniques.

Inclusion Criteria

I am currently receiving treatment for cancer.

I can fill out questionnaires in English before and after the treatment.

I am willing to try acupressure led by a nurse.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo either true or sham acupressure for 10 minutes on study, followed by self-administration sessions at home at least twice daily for seven days

1 week

1 visit (in-person), daily self-administration

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety-related symptoms using questionnaires

Up to 2 weeks

1 visit (virtual or in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acupressure

Trial Overview

The study tests the effectiveness of acupressure therapy versus placebo (sham) acupressure in reducing anxiety among chemotherapy patients. It includes teaching patients self-acupressure and evaluating its impact on well-being compared to standard health education.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm I (true acupressure) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients undergo true acupressure over 10 minutes on study. Patients that choose to learn self-administration acupressure at home receive educational information and undergo self-administration acupressure sessions at least BID for seven days.

Group II: Arm II (sham acupressure) Placebo Group 4 Interventions

Patients undergo sham acupressure over 10 minutes on study. Patients that choose to learn self-administration acupressure at home receive educational information and undergo self-administration acupressure sessions at least BID for seven days.

Acupressure is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Acupressure for:

• Relief from aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients

Approved in European Union as Acupressure for:

• Complementary therapy for symptom management in cancer patients, including relief from aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptoms

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Self-acupressure was found to be feasible and showed clinical significance in reducing insomnia, anxiety, and depression symptoms in cancer patients, particularly in the true acupressure group after 4 weeks of intervention.

Both true and sham acupressure groups reported lower insomnia and anxiety scores compared to the enhanced standard care group, indicating potential effectiveness and a possible placebo effect in managing these symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomized sham-controlled trial of self-acupressure to manage the symptom cluster of insomnia, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Hoang, HTX., Molassiotis, A., Chan, CW., et al.[2022]

A retrospective review of 32 cancer patients receiving virtual acupressure sessions showed a significant reduction in overall symptom burden, with a decrease of 4.9 points on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) after follow-up, indicating potential efficacy of this remote intervention.

The study highlighted that virtual acupressure not only reduced total symptom burden but also improved physical and emotional symptoms, suggesting it could be a valuable supportive care option for cancer patients during disruptions in in-person services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual acupressure for symptom management in cancer populations during COVID-19: a retrospective analysis. Yang, E., Lu, W., Tanasijevic, AM., et al.[2023]

Acupressure applied to the P6 acupuncture point significantly reduced nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in 64 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, demonstrating its efficacy as a supportive treatment.

Patients receiving acupressure had lower scores for nausea, vomiting, and anxiety compared to a control group, indicating that this non-invasive intervention can help alleviate common side effects of chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of acupressure application on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients with breast cancer. Genç, F., Tan, M.[2022]

Auricular acupressure significantly improved the quality of life for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, particularly in reducing nausea, vomiting, and breast symptoms, based on a randomized trial with 54 participants over 12 weeks.

The intervention was found to be safe, effective, low-cost, and easy to apply by trained nurses, suggesting it could be a valuable complementary therapy for enhancing the well-being of breast cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auricular acupressure in the quality of life of women with breast cancer: a randomized clinical trial. Vallim, ETA., Marques, ADCB., Coelho, RCFP., et al.[2022]

Acupuncture is recommended by the American Cancer Society for managing cancer-related symptoms like pain and nausea, and it has been shown to be effective in alleviating these symptoms in cancer patients.

Despite concerns from some practitioners about the potential risks of 'dispersing' tumors, acupuncture can be safely administered using distant points, and it may even have immunomodulatory effects that could be beneficial for cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Acupuncture for cancer patients: why not?]. Samuels, N.[2006]

The updated review analyzed 18 new trials on acupuncture for cancer symptom management, highlighting ongoing concerns about study quality, including issues with blinding and bias, which can affect the reliability of results.

Despite the increase in studies, the review emphasizes the need for standardization in treatment methods and better understanding of the mechanisms behind acupuncture to accurately assess its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for symptom management in cancer care: an update. Garcia, MK., McQuade, J., Lee, R., et al.[2022]

Acupoint stimulation, particularly acupressure on the P6 acupoint, has shown positive effects in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients, with 88% of the 26 trials reviewed reporting beneficial outcomes.

However, only 35% of the trials were of high quality, indicating a need for more rigorously designed studies to confirm the efficacy of acupoint stimulation for other therapy-related adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of acupoint stimulation for the management of therapy-related adverse events in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. Chao, LF., Zhang, AL., Liu, HE., et al.[2022]

Auricular acupressure significantly improves sleep quality in cancer patients, as evidenced by a reduction in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, with a mean difference of -3.88, based on a meta-analysis of 6 trials involving 485 participants.

The intervention showed no serious side effects, with only one trial reporting slight and transient pain, indicating that auricular acupressure is a safe option for managing sleep disturbances in this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auricular Acupressure Therapy for Patients with Cancer with Sleep Disturbance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Wang, Y., Zhang, J., Jin, Y., et al.[2022]

A meta-analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials involving 1019 cancer patients showed that acupuncture and acupressure had a total effective rate of 90% in treating cancer-related depression, compared to 72.5% for those receiving antidepressants.

The study supports the use of acupuncture and acupressure as effective non-pharmacological treatments for cancer-related depression, potentially reducing reliance on medications and their associated side effects, while improving patients' quality of life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture and acupressure with improved cancer-related depression of retrospective studies. Wang, F., Zhao, J., Li, Y., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 70 lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, acupressure on specific points significantly increased meridian energy and effectively reduced nausea and vomiting compared to a control group.

The experimental group experienced notably less nausea (p < .001) and vomiting (p = .006) during the delayed phase after receiving acupressure, suggesting it is a beneficial intervention for managing chemotherapy side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Acupressure on Meridian Energy as well as Nausea and Vomiting in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Shen, CH., Yang, LY.[2018]

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