Clinical trial · Interventional
Electroacupuncture for Cognitive Toxicity in Cancer Survivors: Assessing Implementation, Cost, and Effectiveness for Integration
ElectroAcupuncture to Manage Symptoms of Cognitive Toxicity in Cancer Survivors: Assessing impLementation, Cost, and effectIveness for inteGratioN (EAST-ALIGN)
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and understand the biological mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) in reducing cognitive toxicity among cancer survivors. The study aims are: * To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a 10-week EA regimen targeting neuropsychiatric-related acupoints in reducing cognitive toxicity among cancer survivors in Singapore. * To explore the biological mechanisms underlying EA's effects on cognitive function. * To assess the early implementation of EA for managing cognitive toxicity in cancer survivors. Researchers will compare results from the true EA arm, sham EA arm and waitlist control arm, to see if electroacupuncture can help improve cognitive issues related to cancer and its treatment, how it may work, and what factors may affect how it is delivered in cancer care. Participants will: * Be assigned to either of the 3 arms (true EA, sham EA, waitlist control) * Received 10 EA sessions (if assigned to true or sham EA arm) * Complete 3 study assessment visits at baseline, Week 13, and Week 17 * Be invited to a one-time interview to share their study experience (optional, if selected)
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sham electroacupuncture | Device | — | UNRESOLVED |
| True electroacupuncture | Device | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (3)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- True electroacupuncture arm
- description
- Each participant will receive 10 electroacupuncture treatment sessions over the course of 10-12 weeks.
- interventionNames
- Device: True electroacupuncture
- type
- SHAM_COMPARATOR
- label
- Sham electroacupuncture arm
- description
- Each participant will receive 10 sham electroacupuncture sessions designed to mimic treatment without therapeutic stimulation over the course of 10-12 weeks.
- interventionNames
- Device: Sham electroacupuncture
- type
- NO_INTERVENTION
- label
- Waitlist control arm
- description
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 21 Years
- Maximum age
- 85 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: Survivor participants * Aged 21-85 years * Documented cancer diagnosis in electronic health records * Perceived by the survivor or oncology care provider that cognitive function has worsened since cancer diagnosis and/or beginning of cancer treatment * Able to understand English or Mandarin * Able to provide informed consent Stakeholder participants * Aged ≥21 years * Identified as having a relevant role, experience, or perspective relating to the delivery, referral, coordination, or implementation of EA or supportive cancer care in the study context * Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Survivor participants * Presence of brain metastases * Severe needle phobia * Known bleeding disorder (e.g. hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, thrombocytopenia). * Current use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy (e.g. aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran) * Known blood-borne communicable disease (e.g. hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus) * Presence of a pacemaker or other electronic implant, or a history of epilepsy * Current acupuncture treatment or acupuncture received within the past 3 months * Current pregnancy, planned pregnancy over the next 5 months, or breastfeeding. * Incapable of providing informed consent * Unable to complete study procedures Stakeholder participants * Incapable of providing informed consent * Unable to complete study procedures
References
Publications (31)
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- BACKGROUNDWesevich A, Johnson K, Altomare I: Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment, 2021, pp 139-152
- BACKGROUNDCerulla Torrente N, Navarro Pastor JB, de la Osa Chaparro N. Systematic review of cognitive sequelae of non-central nervous system cancer and cancer therapy. J Cancer Surviv. 2020 Aug;14(4):464-482. doi: 10.1007/s11764-020-00870-2. Epub 2020 Mar 7. PMID 32146576
- BACKGROUNDCheung YT, Shwe M, Tan YP, Fan G, Ng R, Chan A. Cognitive changes in multiethnic Asian breast cancer patients: a focus group study. Ann Oncol. 2012 Oct;23(10):2547-2552. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mds029. Epub 2012 Mar 6. PMID 22396443
- BACKGROUNDMoreno AM, Hamilton RA, Currier MB: Chapter 20 - Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Management, in Cristian A (ed): Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Rehabilitation. St. Louis, Elsevier, 2021, pp 211-223
- BACKGROUNDBolton G, Isaacs A. Women's experiences of cancer-related cognitive impairment, its impact on daily life and care received for it following treatment for breast cancer. Psychol Health Med. 2018 Dec;23(10):1261-1274. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1500023. Epub 2018 Jul 26. PMID 30048158
- BACKGROUNDYang Y, Von Ah D. Cancer-related cognitive impairment: updates to treatment, the need for more evidence, and impact on quality of life-a narrative review. Ann Palliat Med. 2024 Sep;13(5):1265-1280. doi: 10.21037/apm-24-70. Epub 2024 Sep 9. PMID 39260437
- BACKGROUNDDorland HF, Abma FI, Roelen CAM, Stewart RE, Amick BC, Ranchor AV, Bultmann U. Work functioning trajectories in cancer patients: Results from the longitudinal Work Life after Cancer (WOLICA) study. Int J Cancer. 2017 Nov 1;141(9):1751-1762. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30876. Epub 2017 Jul 19.