Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Post-Chemotherapy Fatigue

NCT ID: NCT00658034

Last Updated: 2011-10-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-04-30

Study Completion Date

2011-12-31

Brief Summary

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This is a randomized, placebo controlled study in cancer patients reporting fatigue persisting for at least two months following completion of chemotherapy. Subjects will receive 6 weeks of either acupuncture or placebo treatment as a means of evaluating whether acupuncture reduces chronic fatigue after chemotherapy.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Fatigue

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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1

Acupuncture

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Acupuncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Subjects will receive acupuncture weekly for six weeks. Subjects will complete a Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) questionnaire, a Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment scale (FACT-G), and a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS) at week 7. The BFI and FACT-G will be repeated at week 8. At the end of the study, subjects will be asked to state whether they thought they were on true or placebo acupuncture and why.

2

Placebo Acupuncture

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Placebo Acupuncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Subjects will receive placebo acupuncture weekly for six weeks. During the placebo phase, placebo acupuncture needles will be applied a few mm away from the required points. The placebo acupuncture needle is a blunt tipped needle that moves up inside its handle. When it is pressed against the skin, the subject feels a slight prick and sees the handle of the needle moving towards the skin as if the needle has been inserted.

Subjects will complete a BFI, a FACT-G, and a HADS at week 7. The BFI and FACT-G will be repeated at week 8. At the end of the study, subjects will be asked to state whether they thought they were on true or placebo acupuncture and why. Subjects in the placebo group will be given the option to receive true acupuncture.

Interventions

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Acupuncture

Subjects will receive acupuncture weekly for six weeks. Subjects will complete a Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) questionnaire, a Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment scale (FACT-G), and a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS) at week 7. The BFI and FACT-G will be repeated at week 8. At the end of the study, subjects will be asked to state whether they thought they were on true or placebo acupuncture and why.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Placebo Acupuncture

Subjects will receive placebo acupuncture weekly for six weeks. During the placebo phase, placebo acupuncture needles will be applied a few mm away from the required points. The placebo acupuncture needle is a blunt tipped needle that moves up inside its handle. When it is pressed against the skin, the subject feels a slight prick and sees the handle of the needle moving towards the skin as if the needle has been inserted.

Subjects will complete a BFI, a FACT-G, and a HADS at week 7. The BFI and FACT-G will be repeated at week 8. At the end of the study, subjects will be asked to state whether they thought they were on true or placebo acupuncture and why. Subjects in the placebo group will be given the option to receive true acupuncture.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients age 18-64 diagnosed with a malignancy (solid tumor or hematologic malignancy).
* Patients must have received chemotherapy.
* Patients must complain of fatigue following chemotherapy buy not prior to chemotherapy.
* At least 60 days must have elapsed between the last chemotherapy infusion and completion of the first baseline questionnaire.
* Mean baseline fatigue as measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory must be four or above.

Exclusion Criteria

* Anemia, defined as Hb\<9 or active treatment for anemia. Iron supplementation is allowed as long as the dose has been stable for at least six weeks.
* Platelets less than 50,000/microliter or an Absolute Neutrophil Count less than 1,000/microliter.
* Baseline depression score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale of 11 or above, indicating clinical depression.
* Thyroid disorder, defined as either thyroid stimulating hormone or free T4 out of normal range, is excluded as it is a possible cause of fatigue unrelated to cancer therapy.
* Surgery under general anesthesia; immunotherapy; radiotherapy; or initiation of hormonal therapy within the three weeks prior to enrollment.
* Acupuncture in the previous six weeks.
* Change in use of any of the following drugs in the prior three weeks: opiates, antidepressants (other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors \[SSRIs\])/anxiolytics; OR change in use of SSRIs in the prior six weeks. "Change in use" is defined as initiation or cessation of treatment, or change in prescribed dose or regimen: changes in actual amounts of PRN medication taken are allowed.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

64 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Amy Matecki, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center

Locations

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Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center

Berkeley, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Amy Matecki, MD

Role: CONTACT

(510) 204-6402

Nick Humphrey, BA

Role: CONTACT

(510) 204-3428

Facility Contacts

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Clinical Trials Office

Role: primary

510-204-3428

Other Identifiers

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08-IM-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id