Acupuncture in the treatment of acute toxicity during and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: Interim analysis of randomized prospective open-label trial

DYMÁČKOVÁ, Radana, Tomáš KAZDA, Marek SLÁVIK, Iveta SELINGEROVA, Pavel ŠLAMPA and Ondřej SLÁMA. Acupuncture in the treatment of acute toxicity during and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: Interim analysis of randomized prospective open-label trial. Biomedical Papers. Olomouc: Palacky University, 2020, vol. 164, No 4, p. 454-460. ISSN 1213-8118. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5507/bp.2020.021.

Basic information

• Original name: Acupuncture in the treatment of acute toxicity during and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: Interim analysis of randomized prospective open-label trial
• Authors: DYMÁČKOVÁ, Radana (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš KAZDA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Marek SLÁVIK (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Iveta SELINGEROVA (203 Czech Republic), Pavel ŠLAMPA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Ondřej SLÁMA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Biomedical Papers, Olomouc, Palacky University, 2020, 1213-8118.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30204 Oncology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 1.245
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/20:00118033
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5507/bp.2020.021
• UT WoS: 000604951200014
• Keywords in English: acupuncture; head and neck; cancer; radiotherapy; toxicity
• Tags: 14110811, 14110812, rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Aims. The aim of this investigator-initiated prospective randomized open-label single institutional trial is to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of acute skin and mucosal toxicity, xerostomia, and perception of taste, pain, and nausea related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. This paper reports pilot data of the first 30 enrolled patients. Methods. Patients were randomized to undergo standard of care radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy and support care defined by our institutional standard operating procedures alone or in the combination with acupuncture which was initiated with the first signs of any toxicity. Results. Fifteen patients were enrolled in both arms and all finished the treatment as planned.The median pain was significantly lower in the acupuncture arm (median 1.6 points vs. 2.5 points on a 10-item Likert scale; P=0.035) as well as duration of acute pain (median 31 days vs. 54 days; P=0.031). Patients with acupuncture had significantly shorter duration of acute skin (median 44 days vs. 109 days; P<0.001) and mucosal toxicity (median 34 days vs. 109 days; P<0.001) with no difference in grading of toxicity (median grade 1.6 vs. 1.5; P=0.701 and median grade 1.4 vs. 1.6; P=0.204 for skin and mucosa, respectively). No significant difference was found for other toxicity domains, with the exception of salivation toxicity which was significantly lower in acupuncture arm (median grade 1.3 vs. 1.7; P=0.048). Conclusion. In this interim analysis, acupuncture leads to lower pain andfaster disappearance of skin and mucosal toxicity after (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. Description and validation of acupuncture using scientific approaches will further enhance acceptance of this method by both patients and health care providers.