Electroacupuncture for thalidomide/bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma: a feasibility study

• Published in: Journal of hematology and oncology Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Garcia, M Kay, Cohen, Lorenzo, Guo, Ying, Zhou, Yuhong, You, Bing, Chiang, Joseph, Orlowski, Robert Z, Weber, Donna, Shah, Jatin, Alexanian, Raymond, Thomas, Sheeba, Romaguera, Jorge, Zhang, Liang, Badillo, Maria, Chen, Yiming, Wei, Qi, Lee, Richard, Delasalle, Kay, Green, Vivian, Wang, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 09.05.2014; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Boronic Acids - administration & dosage; Boronic Acids - adverse effects; Bortezomib; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Electroacupuncture - methods; Feasibility Studies; Female; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Hematology; Humans; Male; Medical treatment; Medicine; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy; Nervous system; Oncology; Oncology, Experimental; Pain; Pain Measurement - methods; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - therapy; Pyrazines - administration & dosage; Pyrazines - adverse effects; Spinal cord; Thalidomide - administration & dosage; Thalidomide - adverse effects; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1756-8722; 1756-8722
• DOI: 10.1186/1756-8722-7-41

This single-arm study evaluated feasibility, safety, and initial efficacy of electroacupuncture for thalidomide/bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (PN) in cancer patients with multiple myeloma. Patients with neuropathy ≥ grade 2 received 20 acupuncture treatments over 9 weeks. For the 19 evaluable patients, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecological Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG/NTX) mean (SD) scores improved significantly between baseline and week 13 (20.8 [9.6] vs 13.2 [8.5], p = 0.0002). Moderate effect size differences began on week 4, with the largest effect size differences found at week 9 for FACT/GOG/NTX scores, worst pain in the last 24 hours, and pain severity (Cohen's d = 1.43, 1.19, and 1.08, respectively) and continuing through week 13 (Cohen's d = 0.86, 0.88, and 0.90, respectively). From baseline to week 13, additional significant improvements were seen as follows: postural stability (1.0 [0.6] vs 0.8 [0.4], p = 0.02); coin test (10.0 [7.4] vs 5.6 [1.9], p < 0.0001); button test (96.1 [144.4] vs 54.9 [47.3], p < 0.0001); and walking test (21.6 [10.0] vs 17.2 [7.7], p = 0.0003). No significant changes were seen with NCS. Acupuncture may help patients experiencing thalidomide- or bortezomib-induced PN. Larger, randomized, clinical trials are needed. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00891618.