Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

NCT ID: NCT02803736

Last Updated: 2016-11-23

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

NA

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-12-31

Study Completion Date

2019-12-31

Brief Summary

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This multicenter placebo-controlled trial focuses on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on breast-cancer related lymphedema. 200 participants will be recruited, and randomized in two groups: the real acupuncture group and the sham acupuncture group.

Detailed Description

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In the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is classified as "edema", and is considered to be caused by qi (chi) deficiency and blood stagnation. Acupuncture, as an ancient therapy in TCM, is thought to have the efficacy to stimulate the transformation of qi and drainage of dampness, and is widely used for various diseases including edema in China. Early clinical trials as well as our own clinical observation have demonstrated that acupuncture can ameliorate limb swelling and decrease lymphedema. However, no randomized placebo-controlled trial has been performed to evaluate this efficacy of acupuncture. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of acupuncture to treat chronic upper-limb lymphedema.

Conditions

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Breast Cancer Lymphedema Acupuncture

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Real acupuncture group

Patients in the real acupuncture group will receive true acupuncture 3 times a week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). A standardized prescription of six acupuncture points is used unilaterally. Needles are inserted and manipulated manually until needling sensation (de qi) is obtained, and are retained for 20 minutes with manual manipulation at 10 minutes. Acupuncturists are trained to inquire about specific needle sensations when providing true acupuncture.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through skin at strategic points on human body. Many Western practitioners view the acupuncture as a device to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, and believe that it can increases blood flow.

Sham acupuncture group

Patients in the sham acupuncture group will receive sham acupuncture 3 times a week for 4 weeks (12 sessions).

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through skin at strategic points on human body. Many Western practitioners view the acupuncture as a device to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, and believe that it can increases blood flow.

Interventions

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acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through skin at strategic points on human body. Many Western practitioners view the acupuncture as a device to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, and believe that it can increases blood flow.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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zhen jiu

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* women who completed all primary and adjuvant treatments.
* age between 20 and 45.
* BMI between 18 and 28.
* unilateral lymphedema resulting from surgery for breast cancer.
* mild to moderate lymphedema, with 10% to 40% increase in volume compared to the unaffected arm based on perometry evaluation.
* with no evidence of recurrence.

Exclusion Criteria

* bilateral lymphedema.
* history of bilateral axillary lymph node dissection.
* serious lymphedema, with over 40% increase in volume compared to the unaffected arm based on perometry evaluation.
* pregnant women.
* unable to adhere to the protocol or the treatment schedule.
* recurrent breast cancer or other malignancies.
* current use of chemotherapy or radiation.
* current use of diuretic drugs like Diosmin, or other investigational drugs.
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Liuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Liuzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Xiangcheng Wei

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Guangxi Medical University Institutional Review Board

Central Contacts

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Zheng Peng

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +86 772 3840144

Email: [email protected]

References

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Andersen L, Hojris I, Erlandsen M, Andersen J. Treatment of breast-cancer-related lymphedema with or without manual lymphatic drainage--a randomized study. Acta Oncol. 2000;39(3):399-405. doi: 10.1080/028418600750013186.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10987238 (View on PubMed)

Zhu H, Li J, Peng Z, Huang Y, Lv X, Song L, Zhou G, Lin S, Chen J, He B, Qin F, Liu X, Dai M, Zou Y, Dai S. Effectiveness of acupuncture for breast cancer related lymphedema: protocol for a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized, multicenter trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Sep 21;17(1):467. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1980-0.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 28934950 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PJK201690

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id