Electro-acupuncture for the Prevention and Treatment of Oxaliplatin-induced Neurotoxicity in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Electro-acupuncture for the Prevention and Treatment of Oxaliplatin-induced Neurotoxicity in Colorectal Cancer Patients: a Prospective, Randomized, Sham-controlled, Double-blinded and Multicenter Study

In this study, a 24-week randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, multicenter clinical trial will be conducted to explore the effect of electroacupuncture for prevention and treatment of both acute and chronic neurotoxicity through both clinical and biological indicators.

This is a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded and multiple center trial on electro-acupuncture for preventing and treating symptoms of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity in patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 150 candidates will be recruited in this study four weeks before chemotherapy for best preventive effect. They will be assigned randomly into either the electro-acupuncture or the sham-control group with 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive a total of 24 sessions of interventions (4 weeks before chemotherapy and 8 weeks during chemotherapy, with 2 session per week), and will be followed up regularly for up to 12 weeks after completion of the acupuncture.

Inclusion Criteria:

• are aged ≥18 years old;
• are newly diagnosed with stage II to IV colorectal cancer;
• going to receive adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy within 4 weeks;
• had not received any acupuncture in the previous 3 months and had a life expectancy ≥ of six months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• are not able to comprehend and communicate;
• are not able to read Chinese;
• have prior peripheral neuropathy caused by other diseases including diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and patients with cardiac pacemakers;
• have a bleeding tendency;
• are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• have impaired hepatic or renal function;
• using any pharmaceutical agents e.g., vitamin B6 and vitamin E, or herbal medication. All the above medication prescribed by physicians or Chinese medicine practitioners during the study will be recorded.