Acupuncture for Prostate Cancer
(MPOWER Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. Many men with prostate cancer are treated with hormone therapy, also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). While this treatment is effective, it often causes bothersome side effects such as hot flashes, poor sleep, fatigue, and other physical and emotional symptoms. There is currently no standard treatment to help manage these side effects in men. Acupuncture is a non-drug treatment that has been shown to help reduce hot flashes and related symptoms in women receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer. However, much less is known about whether acupuncture is helpful for men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. This study will test whether an acupuncture program, combined with usual lifestyle education, is feasible and acceptable for men undergoing ADT. The study will also explore whether acupuncture may help reduce hot flashes and improve related symptoms. A total of 24 men with prostate cancer receiving ADT will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will begin acupuncture right away, and the other group will begin acupuncture after a delay, with regular check-ins during the waiting period. All participants will receive standard lifestyle education. Participants will be followed for about five months and will be asked to complete daily hot flash diaries, questionnaires about their symptoms and quality of life, and wear a Fitbit to track sleep. The results of this pilot study will help determine whether a larger study should be conducted to better understand the role of acupuncture in managing hormone therapy side effects in men with prostate cancer.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jeanny Aragon-Ching, MD
Principal Investigator
Inova Schar Cancer
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for men over 18 with any stage of prostate cancer who are undergoing hormone therapy and experiencing moderate to severe hot flashes. They must be relatively active (ECOG status 0-1), able to understand the study, and give written consent.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Immediate Start Acupuncture
Participants receive a 10-week standard acupuncture protocol, consisting of weekly 30-minute sessions, in addition to lifestyle education
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with no acupuncture treatments provided
Delayed Start Acupuncture
Participants receive lifestyle education without acupuncture during the initial period, then begin a 10-week standard acupuncture protocol
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Acupuncture
Trial Overview
The study tests if acupuncture combined with lifestyle education can reduce hot flashes in men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Participants will be split into two groups; one starts acupuncture immediately, the other after a delay.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants randomized to the immediate start acupuncture (IA) arm will receive a 10-week standard acupuncture protocol, consisting of weekly 30-minute sessions, in addition to lifestyle education per usual care. Acupuncture will be delivered by a certified acupuncturist with expertise in oncology care. Following completion of the 10-week acupuncture period, participants will enter a 12-week follow-up phase during which no acupuncture treatments will be provided.
Participants randomized to the delayed start acupuncture (DA) arm will receive lifestyle education per usual care without acupuncture during the initial 10-week comparison period. Beginning at week 12, participants will initiate the same 10-week standard acupuncture protocol, consisting of weekly 30-minute sessions delivered by a certified acupuncturist with expertise in oncology care.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Inova Health Care Services
Lead Sponsor
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