Acupuncture for Breast Cancer

Overseen By Hongjin Li, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Must be taking: Endocrine therapy

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric hospitalization, Bleeding disorder, others

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

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

Duration: 5 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if acupuncture can improve pain, tiredness, and sleep problems in women who have survived breast cancer. Participants will receive acupuncture treatments twice a week for five weeks. The trial suits women who completed their main cancer treatments at least three months ago and within the last five years, experience pain, fatigue, or sleep issues, and are currently on hormone therapy. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, allowing participants to contribute to valuable insights.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you must be currently receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that acupuncture is likely to be safe for humans?

Research has shown that acupuncture is generally safe for cancer patients, including those with breast cancer. One study found that acupuncture reduced anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients without causing major side effects. Another review indicates it may help with symptoms like pain and tiredness related to breast cancer treatment.

Further analysis confirms acupuncture as a safe therapy for cancer patients, suggesting it doesn't lead to significant unwanted effects. Additionally, acupuncture has safely helped with sleep problems in breast cancer patients.

In summary, current evidence supports acupuncture as a safe option for breast cancer survivors. It appears well-tolerated with minimal risk of serious side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising?

Researchers are excited about acupuncture for breast cancer because it offers a holistic approach that differs from traditional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Unlike these options, acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to potentially alleviate pain and reduce side effects associated with cancer and its treatment. This non-invasive method is believed to enhance the body's natural healing process, providing a complementary option that may improve overall quality of life without the harsh side effects of conventional therapies.

What evidence suggests that acupuncture might be an effective treatment for breast cancer symptoms?

Research has shown that acupuncture may improve symptoms for breast cancer survivors. A review of studies found that acupuncture might reduce pain, fatigue, and sleep issues related to breast cancer treatment. Many women reported feeling better quickly, with some noticing improvements immediately or after just a few sessions. Acupuncture is generally considered safe and can complement standard breast cancer care. In one study, women with joint pain from cancer treatment experienced less pain after receiving acupuncture compared to those who did not. This suggests that acupuncture could be a promising option for managing these symptoms. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking women who finished primary breast cancer treatment (stages 0-III) at least 3 months ago but within the last 5 years, are on adjuvant endocrine therapy, and suffer from pain, fatigue, or sleep issues with a severity of ≥3. Excluded are those with recent psychiatric hospitalization, bleeding disorders, pregnancy or inability to complete study procedures.

Inclusion Criteria

I have experienced significant pain, fatigue, or sleep problems in the last three months.

I finished my main cancer treatment between 3 months and 5 years ago.

I have been diagnosed with early to mid-stage breast cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to complete study tasks due to physical or mental reasons.

I have been hospitalized for a mental health issue in the last 2 years.

I have a condition that affects my blood's ability to clot.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive acupuncture treatments twice weekly for 5 weeks

5 weeks

10 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acupuncture

Trial Overview The study tests if acupuncture can alleviate psychoneurological symptoms like pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in breast cancer survivors. Participants will receive acupuncture treatments twice weekly over five weeks while researchers track changes in biomarkers.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Acupuncture Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All subjects will receive active acupuncture. The acupuncture intervention will consist of 10 acupuncture sessions, twice weekly for 5 weeks. There will be at least 1 day in between session.

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

Approved in United States as Acupuncture for:

• Pain management
• Hot flashes
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Neuropathy

Approved in European Union as Acupuncture for:

• Pain management
• Hot flashes
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Depression

Approved in China as Acupuncture for:

• Pain management
• Hot flashes
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Neuropathy

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Chicago

Lead Sponsor

Trials

653

Recruited

1,574,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Acupuncture may help reduce functional stiffness in breast cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy, based on a review of 17 randomized controlled trials involving 810 participants.

While acupuncture showed moderate effects on stiffness, it did not significantly alleviate other common side effects of hormone therapy, such as hot flashes and fatigue, indicating that its benefits may be limited to specific symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Benefits of Acupuncture for the Reduction of Hormone Therapy-Related Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. Pan, Y., Yang, K., Shi, X., et al.[2019]

Acupuncture has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for various symptoms associated with cancer, including nausea, pain, fatigue, and insomnia, based on a systematic review of 23 clinical trials.

The evidence suggests that acupuncture can help minimize side effects from conventional cancer treatments, improving patients' overall quality of life during their care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture techniques and acupoints used in individuals under chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment of cancer: A systematic review. de Sousa, TR., Mattos, S., Marcon, G., et al.[2023]

Acupuncture can lead to adverse events (AEs), including organ or tissue injuries, infections, local reactions, and other complications, with serious AEs being rare but potentially life-threatening, as highlighted by a review of 17 systematic reviews.

The overall methodological quality of the reviews on acupuncture AEs was mediocre, indicating a need for improved research standards and emphasizing the importance of patient safety and acupuncturist training in practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of Acupuncture: Overview of Systematic Reviews. Chan, MWC., Wu, XY., Wu, JCY., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 115 Chinese-language articles identified 479 cases of adverse events related to acupuncture, with 14 reported deaths, highlighting significant safety concerns.

The most common adverse events included pneumothorax and infections, primarily resulting from improper techniques, indicating a need for improved monitoring and risk management in acupuncture practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature. Zhang, J., Shang, H., Gao, X., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 1228 articles identified only 8 observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the use of acupuncture for alleviating symptoms in breast cancer survivors, indicating limited high-quality evidence.

While the studies suggested that acupuncture may help with symptoms like lymphedema and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, the overall lack of rigorous RCTs means that more comprehensive research is needed to confirm its efficacy in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Current evidence of acupuncture for symptoms related to breast cancer survivors: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of clinical studies in Korea. Kim, TH., Kang, JW., Lee, MS.[2021]

The review highlights the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing symptoms related to cancer, based on a decade of research by the author's group.

Future investigations are suggested to explore new directions in the application of acupuncture for cancer symptom management, indicating ongoing interest and potential for this treatment method.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture as cancer symptom therapy: what a difference a decade makes. Johnstone, PA.[2022]

Acupuncture significantly reduces treatment-related symptoms such as pain intensity, fatigue, and hot flash severity in breast cancer survivors, based on a meta-analysis of 20 trials involving 1709 patients.

The treatment is generally safe, with only mild adverse events reported, but the studies had a high risk of bias, indicating a need for more rigorous trials to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture Improves Multiple Treatment-Related Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Li, H., Schlaeger, JM., Jang, MK., et al.[2022]

Acupuncture is recognized as a safe and effective treatment for managing acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, supported by recent clinical trials and research on its physiological mechanisms.

The growing acceptance of acupuncture in oncology settings highlights its role in supportive care, with many cancer clinics now recommending and administering this treatment to alleviate side effects from conventional therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture in the oncology setting: clinical trial update. Capodice, JL.[2021]

A study involving 25 breast cancer survivors identified six key factors influencing their decision to participate in acupuncture clinical trials, including symptom appraisal, practical barriers, and beliefs about the treatment.

Both African-American and Caucasian participants considered similar factors, but they differed in their preferred information sources and concerns about placebo use, highlighting the need for tailored recruitment strategies in clinical trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breast cancer survivors willingness to participate in an acupuncture clinical trial: a qualitative study. Schapira, MM., Mackenzie, ER., Lam, R., et al.[2022]

Acupuncture has been found to provide moderate relief from hormone therapy-related side effects such as hot flashes, fatigue, and stiffness in breast cancer patients, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Despite these positive findings, the evidence quality was downgraded due to inconsistencies and imprecision in the studies, highlighting the need for larger, more standardized trials to confirm acupuncture's efficacy and explore its biological mechanisms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for Hormone Therapy-Related Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis. Yuanqing, P., Yong, T., Haiqian, L., et al.[2022]

A study involving 375 cancer patients showed that outpatient acupuncture significantly reduced various symptoms related to cancer treatment, with the most notable improvements in hot flashes, fatigue, and nausea after the first treatment.

Patients experienced both immediate and lasting benefits from acupuncture, with significant reductions in overall distress and specific symptoms like spiritual pain, indicating acupuncture could be a valuable complementary therapy in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outpatient acupuncture effects on patient self-reported symptoms in oncology care: a retrospective analysis. Lopez, G., Garcia, MK., Liu, W., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12943-025-02416-5

Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast Cancer In general, acupuncture can be used as a safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the comprehensive treatment of BC patients [79].

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2798317

Comparison of Acupuncture vs Sham ... In this randomized clinical trial, women with AI-related joint pain receiving 12 weeks of TA had reduced pain at 52 weeks compared with controls.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02803736

Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related ... In the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is classified as "edema", and is considered to be caused by qi (chi) ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8222976/

Acupuncture for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and ... Current evidence suggests that acupuncture might improve BC treatment-related symptoms measured with PROs including QoL, pain, fatigue, hot flashes, sleep ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7541443/

Real-world experiences with acupuncture among breast ... Most participants reported time-to-benefit as immediate (34.4%) or after a few treatments (40.2%), few reported benefit after the final treatment (2.1%) or ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8558649/

The Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture and ... Meanwhile, a clinical trial including 302 breast cancer patients showed that acupuncture could improve cancer-related anxiety and depression. It is worth noting ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.646315/full

Acupuncture for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and ... Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that acupuncture might improve BC treatment-related symptoms measured with PROs including QoL, pain, fatigue, hot flashes ...

8. acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.34165

Safety of acupuncture in oncology: A systematic review and ... According to this analysis, acupuncture is a safe therapy for the treatment of patients with cancer. Acupuncture seems to be safe compared with ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096522992400075X

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment ... Acupuncture can partially alleviate insomnia symptoms in breast cancer patients. Moreover, acupuncture is safe and may serve as a dependable alternative therapy ...