Effects of Acupuncture on Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Joint Pain

NCT ID: NCT02548637

Last Updated: 2017-07-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2017-06-30

Brief Summary

Researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) at Providence Saint John's Health Center (PSJHC) are trying to examine whether acupuncture reduces joint pain in patients being treated with aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for breast cancer and whether the reduction in pain happens by lowering inflammation.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose to investigate the effect of acupuncture on patients experiencing joint pain from aromatase inhibitor therapy. The investigators will serially measure patient's symptoms and track current medications, joint pain, daily activities, fatigue, and quality of life. The investigators will collect peripheral blood at baseline, weeks 4 and 7, one week after the last acupuncture treatment and 4 weeks after the last acupuncture treatment. The investigators will study the samples collected at the five predetermined time-points to test for immune parameters, such as the innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as the proliferative capabilities and pro-inflammatory mediators reflected in innate and adaptive functional immune responses.

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Acupuncture Therapy

Based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, investigators will use the systemic treatment methods (full body treatment with the joint specifications). Every patient will receive the standard protocols of these points uniformly regardless of their symptoms. The only variable will be the location of placement of the four electrodes (two positive charges and two negative charges) to the needle points at the most painful joints bilaterally. Needles will be in place a total of 45 minutes per session. The Thermal Design Power (TDP) infrared heat lamp will be applied concurrently to the most painful joint(s) for the entire 45 minutes. Acupuncture will be administered twice a week for 6 weeks, then once a week for an additional 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture Therapy

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The standard textbook of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion is the source for the name and location of the points for this study. A total of 38 points will be used, divided between two acupuncture sessions: 20 points or 37 locations in the supine position; 18 points or 36 locations in the prone position. Other than points governing vessel (GV) 20, conception vessel (CV) 6, CV 10, all points will be performed bilaterally.

Interventions

Acupuncture Therapy

The standard textbook of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion is the source for the name and location of the points for this study. A total of 38 points will be used, divided between two acupuncture sessions: 20 points or 37 locations in the supine position; 18 points or 36 locations in the prone position. Other than points governing vessel (GV) 20, conception vessel (CV) 6, CV 10, all points will be performed bilaterally.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Female
• Must be on aromatase inhibitor therapy continuously for breast cancer treatment for at least the preceding two months
• Must have experienced increased or new onset joint pain daily to a degree equal to or greater than 4 on a pain scale of 0-10 after starting aromatase inhibitor therapy
• Able to read and write English
• Able to give written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Have a known autoimmune disease or acute infection
• Have had acupuncture treatment within 6 months of study enrollment
• Known needle phobia
• Known metal allergies
• Have an implantable device, such as pacemaker, defibrillator or other device contraindicated with electrical stimulation
• Use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or narcotics within 7 days of study enrollment and during study period (15 weeks)
• Receipt of prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy within 90 days
• On anticoagulant therapy
• Receiving physical or occupational therapy concurrently
• Taking herbs or herbal teas within 7 days of study enrollment and during study period (15 weeks)
• Have an immune-compromising medical condition or currently receiving immune-modulating therapies (including corticosteroids)
• Enrolled in any other active cancer treatment protocols
• Bone fracture or surgery of an affected extremity within 6 months

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Saint John's Cancer Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Rebecca Crane-Okada, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Saint John's Cancer Institute

Locations

John Wayne Cancer Institute

Santa Monica, California, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

ACU-JOINT001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id