Acupuncture for Prostate Cancer
(MPOWER Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores whether acupuncture can help manage side effects like hot flashes and poor sleep in men with prostate cancer undergoing hormone therapy. The study aims to determine if acupuncture, combined with lifestyle tips, is a comfortable and useful option for these men. Participants will either begin acupuncture immediately or after a short wait, with both groups receiving regular lifestyle education. Men experiencing bothersome hot flashes from hormone therapy might be a good fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore alternative treatments for improving quality of life.
Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?
The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on adding acupuncture to your existing treatment for prostate cancer.
What prior data suggests that acupuncture is safe for men undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer?
Studies have shown that acupuncture is generally safe for cancer patients. Research indicates that it carries a low risk of unwanted side effects, similar to other cancer treatments. For those with prostate cancer, researchers have studied acupuncture for its ability to ease pain and reduce treatment side effects, making it a promising option for those experiencing side effects from hormone therapy. Although more research is needed to fully understand its benefits for men with prostate cancer, current evidence supports acupuncture as a well-tolerated treatment.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about using acupuncture for prostate cancer because it offers a non-invasive alternative to traditional treatments like surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. Acupuncture involves stimulating specific points on the body, which may help manage symptoms and improve quality of life without the side effects often associated with conventional treatments. Additionally, this approach is administered by certified acupuncturists with oncology expertise, ensuring that patients receive specialized care tailored to their needs.
What evidence suggests that acupuncture might be an effective treatment for prostate cancer side effects?
Research has shown that acupuncture might help reduce hot flashes in prostate cancer patients. One study found that hot flash symptoms were cut in half after just four weeks of treatment. Acupuncture has also improved pain and quality of life for those with prostate cancer. Another study found that both acupuncture and massage provided long-term pain relief for cancer patients. In this trial, participants will be randomized into two groups: the Immediate Start Acupuncture arm, receiving a 10-week standard acupuncture protocol immediately, and the Delayed Start Acupuncture arm, beginning the same protocol after a 10-week comparison period. Although acupuncture is more often studied in women, these findings suggest it could also help men who experience similar side effects from hormone therapy.15678
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
Citations
Acupuncture for pain caused by prostate cancer
Acupuncture has good clinical efficacy in treating pain caused by prostate cancer. This review hopes to adopt meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety ...
2.
journals.lww.com
journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2020/04030/a_randomized_controlled_trial_for_acupuncture.29.aspxA randomized controlled trial for acupuncture combined ...
Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can improve pain and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. Therefore, in this study we will evaluate the ...
Acupuncture vs Massage for Pain in Patients Living With ...
In this randomized clinical trial that included 298 patients with advanced cancer, both acupuncture and massage were associated with long-term pain reduction.
Acupuncture Improves Functional Limitations for Cancer ...
Within the acupuncture groups, pain responders achieved greater functional gains than non-responders (Q-DASH, −6.74; WOMAC, −6.16; both p < 0. ...
Acupuncture for hot flashes in prostate cancer patients
The primary endpoint was a 50% reduction in HFS after 4 weeks of therapy. A 50% reduction in HFS at other time points as well as changes in the ...
Acupuncture for Side Effects?!
It is important to give acupuncture the respect it deserves for potentially reducing some side effects of prostate cancer treatment. The ...
7.
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.34165Safety of acupuncture in oncology: A systematic review and ...
Acupuncture has a low risk of AEs, comparable to that of sham acupuncture and active controls, in oncological patients. To date, data on the ...
Acupuncture for pain caused by prostate cancer
This systematic review will evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pain caused by prostate cancer.
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