Full Title
A Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial of Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment (ACT)Purpose
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause numbness and/or nerve pain in the arms and legs, a condition called peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study is to assess the value of electroacupuncture (EA) for treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy pain.
Acupuncture is a medical technique that involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific areas on the body with the goal of promoting health and well-being. EA involves adding a very small amount of electricity through the acupuncture needles. Researchers have found that EA can increase the effects of regular acupuncture, and it is particularly helpful for treating different kinds of pain.
Patients in this study will be randomly assigned to receive real EA or “placebo” EA. Placebo EA is performed the same way as real EA, but using a different needle technique and targeting different sites on the body than real EA. After the study is over, participants in the placebo EA group will be offered 8 real EA treatments.
Who Can Join
This study will include people age 18 and older who completed nerve-damaging chemotherapy three or more months before entering the study, are free of cancer, and are still experiencing moderate to severe nerve pain. Participants may not have received acupuncture within one year of entering the study. Those with a pacemaker or other electronically charged medical device may not participate.
For more information about this study, please contact the Clinical Research Coordinator at 646-449-1033.