A Pilot Study of Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

* History of histologically or cytologically proven breast cancer at stage I, II and III, without evidence of distant metastasis;
* Completed adjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy as single agents or in combination with platins or HER-2 directed therapy
* Reporting grade 1 or greater of the following symptoms persistently for more than 2 weeks: neuropathic pain, allodynia, areflexia, dysesthesia, paresthesia, hyperesthesia, hypoesthesia or glove and stocking syndrome as defined by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v. 4.03) (Table 1 and the screening checklist);
* Patients who are currently on stable prescription medications or dietary supplements for CIPN and still symptomatic as defined above will be allowed to participate in the study. Related medications are: gabapentin, pregabalin, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, duloxetine, venlafaxine; lidocaine, opioid tramadol and other narcotics; NSAIDs; glutamine, glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin B12;
* Age ≥ 18 years;
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1;
* Adequate hematological function: neutrophil count \>1.0 x109/L, platelet count \>50x109/L;
* Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with any of the following criteria will not be eligible for the study:
* Unstable cardiac disease or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry;
* Wearing a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; uncontrolled seizure disorder;
* History of pre-existing peripheral neuropathy prior to chemotherapy, including alcoholism, vitamin B deficiency, diabetes, HIV, congenital neuropathy, toxic neuropathy;
* Peripheral neuropathy caused by tumor infiltration or compression of spinal nerves or surgical trauma;
* Pregnancy or potential pregnancy and nursing;
* Active clinically significant uncontrolled infection;
* Prior use of acupuncture for CIPN within 6 months prior to study entry;
* Patients with uncontrolled major psychiatric disorders, such as major depression or psychosis, will not be eligible for this trial. Patients with a history of depression or anxiety who are stable on or off psychiatric medications will be eligible.