Efficacy and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Pain

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Pain: : a Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial

This study compares the effect of acupuncture and placebo acupuncture on advanced pancreatic cancer pain and then investigates its potential mechanism of peripheral blood.

Acupuncture may alleviate abdominal or back pain of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Acupuncture participants would receive electroacupuncture on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points for 3 times in a week. Placebo acupuncture participants would receive placebo acupuncture on non-point points for the same period. Pain scores on numeric rating scale (NRS) and blood levels of β-endorphin and nerve growth factor are compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Advanced pancreatic cancer at Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage diagnosed by histological/cytological examination.
• Pain score of abdominal or back pain ≥3 on a numeric rating scale (NRS) graduated from 0 to 10.
• Stable dose of analgesics at least 72 hours before randomization.
• Expected survival time more than 1 month.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Another cause for abdominal or back pain (such as prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, ulcer or other intra-abdominal disorder).
• Acupuncture treatment in the past.
• Contraindications for the use of acupuncture (such as severe allergies, bleeding tendency, infectious dermatosis and ulcer or scar at points).
• Unable to give informed consent.