Electroacupuncture for Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Advanced Cancer

June 10, 2026 updated by: Jiuda Zhao, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University

Electroacupuncture for Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to clarify the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture combined with thumbtack needle for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN), and to provide high-level evidence-based medicine for the prevention of CIPN in patients with advanced cancer. At the same time, the effects of electroacupuncture on the median nerve, tibial nerve, sural nerve sensory conduction velocity and sensory nerve action potential, as well as on the median nerve and tibial nerve motor conduction velocity will be analyzed.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A prospective, multicenter, block-randomized, blinded study design will be adopted. The study will screen patients with advanced breast cancer, gastric cancer, intestinal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio, through a screening and informed consent process, to either the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group will receive electroacupuncture combined with thumbtack needle treatment, while the control group will receive sham electroacupuncture combined with sham thumbtack needle treatment. The primary endpoint will be the incidence of CIPN during chemotherapy(assessed by NCI-CTCAE). Secondary endpoints will include: the incidence of CIPN at 3, 6, and 9 months after the start of chemotherapy; the incidence of ≥ grade 3 sensory CIPN within 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy; and the incidence of ≥ grade 2 sensory CIPN within 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy. Simultaneously evaluate the safety of treatment and the quality of life of patients. Changes in nerve conduction velocity will be detected before the first cycle of chemotherapy and after the fourth cycle of chemotherapy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
264

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Qinghai
      • Xining, Qinghai, China, 810000
        • Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Pathological and imaging examinations confirmed the diagnosis of advanced cancer(IV stage), including: breast cancer, gastric cancer, intestinal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer or ovarian cancer;
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 or 1.
  • Scheduled to receive chemotherapy containing a taxane, utidelone, or oxaliplatin, with no significant pre-existing neurological symptoms prior to chemotherapy. Specific regimens include: Colorectal cancer: Oxaliplatin-containing regimen. Gastric cancer: Oxaliplatin-containing or taxane-containing regimen. Breast cancer: Taxane-containing or utidelone-containing regimen. NSCLC or Ovarian cancer: Taxane-containing regimen.
  • No history of acupuncture treatment within one month prior to study initiation.
  • Adequate major organ function, meeting the following laboratory criteria: Hematology: Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10^9/L; Platelet count ≥ 100 × 10^9/L; White blood cell count 3.5 - 9.5 × 10^9/L; Hemoglobin ≥ 100 g/L. Hepatic Function: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ≤ 3 × ULN; Serum bilirubin concentration < 1.5 mg/dL; Serum albumin > 2.5 g/dL. Renal Function: Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN, OR calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min (using the Cockcroft-Gault formula). Coagulation: International normalized ratio ≤ 1.5, AND activated partial thromboplastin time ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
  • Willing to receive acupuncture intervention and undergo subsequent follow-up assessments.
  • Voluntarily agree to participate in the study and sign an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with early-stage cancer.
  • Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy prior to the initiation of chemotherapy.
  • Severe impairment of major organ function, rendering the patient unable to tolerate standard-dose chemotherapy.
  • Presence of active skin infection or other conditions unsuitable for acupuncture treatment.
  • Coexisting underlying diseases associated with peripheral neuropathy, such as diabetes mellitus, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
  • Current use of medications for neuropathic pain (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin).
  • Pregnant or lactating patients.
  • Presence of dermatological conditions, as assessed by the clinician, that may interfere with the study procedures or outcomes.
  • Patients with active brain metastases.
  • Patients with a history of implanted cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, or a history of epilepsy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: True electroacupuncture combined with true thumbtack needle group
Electroacupuncture will be administered on days 1, 2 and 3 of chemotherapy, followed by thumbtack needle therapy on days 4, 5, and 6 of chemotherapy, and no intervention will be given at other times. For electroacupuncture, we will choose the following acupoints: Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Quchi, and Yanglingquan. After achieving 'deqi', electrodes will be connected bilaterally as follows: Quchi to Yanglingquan, and Hegu to Zusanli. Stimulation will be delivered at 2/10Hz with a current of ≤10mA for 30 minutes. For thumbtack needle therapy, bilateral Zusanli, Hegu, and Taichong points will be sterilized with 75% alcohol before inserting and embedding the thumbtack needles. On the day of thumbtack needle therapy, patients will be instructed to press each thumbtack for one minute at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00, to induce a mild sensation of soreness and fullness. The electroacupuncture and thumbtack needle therapy will be given for each chemotherapy cycle.
Device: True electroacupuncture
The acupoints Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Quchi, and Yanglingquan will be selected for treatment. After inserting the needle with a 'deqi', electrodes will be connected bilaterally as follows: Quchi to Yanglingquan, and Hegu to Zusanli. The electroacupuncture parameters adopt a sparse wave type, with a frequency of 2/10Hz and a current intensity not exceeding 10mA. The treatment time is 30 minutes, based on the patient's tolerance.
Device: True thumbtack needle
The Zusanli, Hegu, and Taichong on both sides will be selected for thumbtack needle therapy, clean the skin with a 75% alcohol cotton swab, and quickly insert the thumbtack needle into the skin and into the selected acupoints. On the day of thumbtack needle therapy, patients will be instructed to press each thumbtack for one minute at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00, to induce a mild sensation of soreness and fullness. If fainting or skin allergies occur during the thumbtack needle therapy, the thumbtack needle will be promptly removed.
Sham Comparator: Sham electroacupuncture combined with sham thumbtack needle group
Sham electroacupuncture will be administered on days 1, 2, and 3 of chemotherapy, followed by sham thumbtack needle therapy on days 4, 5, and 6 of chemotherapy, and no intervention will be given at other times. Sham electroacupuncture operation: Select the same acupoints as the experimental group, select 1-2cm near the Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Quchi, and Yanglingquan acupoints, shallow subcutaneous puncture, no electricity, 30 minutes. Sham thumbtack needle operation: Select 1-2cm near the Zusanli, Hegu, and Taichong acupoints on both sides to apply fake snap needles(remove the needle tip) without pressing. The same sham electroacupuncture and sham thumbtack needle therapy will be given for each chemotherapy cycle.
Device: Sham electroacupuncture
Select Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Quchi, and Yanglingquan on both sides will be selected for sham electroacupuncture therapy, select 1-2cm near the Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Quchi, and Yanglingquan acupoints, shallow subcutaneous puncture, no electricity, 30 minutes.
Device: Sham thumbtack needle
Select Zusanli, Hegu, and Taichong on both sides will be selected for sham thumbtack needle therapy. Select 1-2cm near the Zusanli, Hegu, and Taichong acupoints on both sides and apply sham thumbtack needle (remove the needle tip) without pressing.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The incidence of CIPN during chemotherapy (from the beginning of chemotherapy to the end of chemotherapy for any reason) .
Time Frame: 1 year
The number of cases of CIPN occurring during chemotherapy/Total number of cases
1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The incidence of CIPN at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of CIPN cases at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy/Total number of cases
1 year
The incidence of ≥ grade 3 sensory CIPN at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of cases of ≥ grade 3 sensory CIPN occurring at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy/Total number of cases
1 year
The incidence of ≥ grade 2 sensory CIPN at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of cases of ≥ grade 2 sensory CIPN occurring at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of chemotherapy/Total number of cases
1 year
The time of occurrence of all levels and levels 3 and above CIPN
Time Frame: 1 year
The time of occurrence of all levels and levels 3 and above CIPN
1 year
EORTC-CIPN20 evaluation score
Time Frame: 1 year
The scale consists of 20 questions, each divided into 4 levels: 1 point: completely none, 2 points: a little, 3 points: quite a lot, 4 points: very much. The total score is converted into a standard rating score (0-100 points) through linear conversion, and there is only one unit of score.
1 year
EQ-5D-5L evaluation score
Time Frame: 1 year

For the Descriptive System(Health State Index): A single summary index value(often called a 'utility' score) is calculated by applying a country-specific or region-specific value set(or 'tariff') to the 5-digit health state code. These value sets, derived from general population studies, assign weights to each possible health state. The index typically ranges from values less than 0(where 0=dead, and states worse than dead have negative values) to 1(full health). There is no single global scoring formula; the appropriate national value set must be used.

For the EQ VAS: The score is the self-reported number between 0 and 100, representing the respondent's perception of their overall health at that moment. It is reported as a raw score, and there is only one unit of score.
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 25, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • AHQU-2026002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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