The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy)

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Nerve Pain, Neuropathy, Neuropathy, Painful, Pain, CIPN - Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

In brief

This study is a randomized controlled trial of electroacupuncture (referred to as EA) versus sham acupuncture (referred to as EA) as effective treatments for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) pain in cancer survivors.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04917796

Run by

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

People needed

255

Starts

2021-05-21

Expected to finish

2026-09-24

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-22

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• English-proficient men and women aged ≥18 years
• Free of oncologic disease by clinical examination and history
• Completed neurotoxic chemotherapy such as platinum agents, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, and bortezomib at least three months prior to enrollment
• Diagnosis of CIPN based on symptom history, loss of deep tendon reflexes, or the presence of symmetrical stocking-glove pain, numbness, or paresthesia
• Grade ≥1 sensory pain based on the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0
• Self-reported moderate to severe CIPN pain, as defined by a score of 4 or greater on the BPI-SF average pain item over the past week
• On a stable regimen (no change in the past three months) if taking anti-neuropathy or other pain medications
• Willing to adhere to requirement that no new pain medication be taken throughout the first 12 weeks of the study period
• Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of the two possible acupuncture treatments

You may not qualify if…

• Patients with a pacemaker or other electronically charged medical device
• Use of acupuncture for symptom management within the past 12 months

Where it is running

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (Limited protocol activities) — Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited protocol activities) — Middletown, New Jersey, United States
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities) — Montvale, New Jersey, United States
• Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center — New York, New York, United States
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited protocol activities) — Rockville Centre, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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