Acupuncture Prevents Chemobrain in Breast Cancer Patients

Summary

Chemobrain is an expression used to describe a cluster of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment symptoms, including problems with visual and verbal memory, forgetfulness, difficulty in learning, attention, concentration and coordination of multitasking and organization. Over 75% cancer patients experienced acute cognitive symptoms during chemotherapy and 17%-34% of them have long-term post-treatment cognitive deficits which can persist up to 10 years. Breast cancer survivors even display as high as 50%-75% prevalence of post-treatment cognitive impairment. Chemobrain has become an apparent quality-of-life issue for cancer survivors and will be encountered more frequently with the rise of the number of cancer survivors. There are no effective interventions available for preventing and treating chemobrain.

Acupuncture is beneficial in reducing various side effects of anti-cancer treatment. It also shows the efficacy in improving mild cognitive impairment and other dementia disorders; facilitates the recovery of pathological microstructural changes of the brain. These results have led to the hypothesis that acupuncture is effective in preventing chemobrain and this preventive effect may be associated with the protection against cytokine production, epigenetic modification and microstructural changes of the brain.

To test this hypothesis, an assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial will be conducted to determine if a combination of DCEAS and body acupuncture could reduce the incidence and symptoms of chemobrain in breast cancer patients under chemotherapy compared to least acupuncture stimulation (LAS) as controls.

A total of 168 breast cancer patients who are ready for chemotherapy will be randomly assigned to comprehensive acupuncture intervention (combined DCEAS and body acupuncture regimen + chemotherapy) (CAI) (n = 84) for 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks or least acupuncture stimulation (LAS) (minimal acupuncture + chemotherapy) (n = 84). All patients receive the standard chemotherapy of breast cancer. Treatment outcomes on cognitive performance, fatigue and the depression will be assessed.

Conditions

• Chemo-brain
• Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Breast Cancer

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation

DCEAS is a is a novel stimulation mode in which electrical stimulation is delivered on acupoints located on the forehead. Six pairs of acupoints are used: Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3), left Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Toulinqi (GB15), right Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Toulinqi (GB15), bilateral Shuaigu (GB8), bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5), and bilateral Touwei (ST8). Disposable acupuncture needles (Hwato®, 0.30 mm in diameter and 25-40 mm in length) are inserted at a depth of 10-30 mm perpendicularly or obliquely into acupoints. Manual manipulation is then conducted to evoke needling sensation, followed by electrical stimulation (ITO ES-160, continuous waves at 2 Hz).

PROCEDURE

Body acupuncture

Following acupoints are used: Shui-Gou (GV26), Shen-Men (HT7). He-Gu (LI4), Wai-Guan (TE5), Zhong-Wan (CV12), Guan-Yuan (CV4), Zu-San-Li (ST36), Feng-Long (ST40) and San-Yin-Jiao (SP6). Disposable acupuncture needles (Hwato®, 0.30 mm in diameter and 25-40 mm in length) are inserted at a depth of 10-30 mm perpendicularly or obliquely into acupoints. Manual manipulation is then conducted to evoke needling sensation. No electrical stimulation is delivered.

PROCEDURE

Least acupuncture stimulation

The acupoints chosen are less related to the treated syndromes based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory; the number of acupoints used and the intensity of electrical stimulation are also lower than the comprehensive acupuncture regimen. The following 6 acupoints will be used in LAS control: bilateral Tong-Tian (GB17), bilateral Shou San-Li (LI10) and bilateral Fu-Yang (BL59). Electrical stimulation will be only performed on bilateral Tong-Tian (GB17) and the intensities are adjusted to a level at which patients just start feeling the stimulation.

DRUG

Cytoxan-containing chemotherapy regimens

Each subject shall receive oral administration or venous injection or both with adjuvant or neoadujuvant chemotherapy regimens, as decided by clinical oncologist. In clinical practice, the most commonly used Cytoxan-containing regimens include but are not limit to: AC (x4) \[Adriamycin + Cytoxan\], TC (x4) \[Taxotere + Cytoxan\], AC-P (4+4) \[Adriamycin + Cytoxan + Paclitaxel\], TAC (x6) \[Taxotere + Adriamycin + Cytoxan\], or AC-PH (4+4) \[Adriamycin + Cytoxan + Paclitaxel + Herceptin\].

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Zhang-Jin ZHANG, MMed, PhD · School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-10-31

Primary Completion

2018-12-31

Completion

2019-03-31

Countries

• China
• Hong Kong

Study Locations