Acupuncture Prevents Chemobrain in Breast Cancer Patients

Chemobrain is an expression used to describe a cluster of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment symptoms, including problems with visual and verbal memory, forgetfulness, difficulty in learning, attention, concentration and coordination of multitasking and organization. Over 75% cancer patients experienced acute cognitive symptoms during chemotherapy and 17%-34% of them have long-term post-treatment cognitive deficits which can persist up to 10 years. Breast cancer survivors even display as high as 50%-75% prevalence of post-treatment cognitive impairment. Chemobrain has become an apparent quality-of-life issue for cancer survivors and will be encountered more frequently with the rise of the number of cancer survivors. There are no effective interventions available for preventing and treating chemobrain. Acupuncture is beneficial in reducing various side effects of anti-cancer treatment. It also shows the efficacy in improving mild cognitive impairment and other dementia disorders; facilitates the recovery of pathological microstructural changes of the brain. These results have led to the hypothesis that acupuncture is effective in preventing chemobrain and this preventive effect may be associated with the protection against cytokine production, epigenetic modification and microstructural changes of the brain. To test this hypothesis, an assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial will be conducted to determine if a combination of DCEAS and body acupuncture could reduce the incidence and symptoms of chemobrain in breast cancer patients under chemotherapy compared to least acupuncture stimulation (LAS) as controls. A total of 168 breast cancer patients who are ready for chemotherapy will be randomly assigned to comprehensive acupuncture intervention (combined DCEAS and body acupuncture regimen + chemotherapy) (CAI) (n = 84) for 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks or least acupuncture stimulation (LAS) (minimal acupuncture + chemotherapy) (n = 84). All patients receive the standard chemotherapy of breast cancer. Treatment outcomes on cognitive performance, fatigue and the depression will be assessed.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

65 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Chinese females aged 18 to 65 years;
2. have a diagnosis of stage I-IIIa breast cancer; and
3. are ready for orally administered or vein injection or both with Cytoxan-containing regimens as adjuvant chemotherapy before or after surgical treatment or in combination with other pharmacotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. had chemotherapy in the last 2 years;
2. have cardiac pacemakers, epilepsy or other unstable medical conditions;
3. had investigational drug treatment within the past 6 months;
4. alcoholism or drug abuse within the past 1 year; or
5. have severe needle phobia.

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