Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting

Area of Science:

• Integrative oncology
• Complementary and alternative medicine

Background:

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remain significant challenges despite advances in antiemetic pharmacotherapy.
• Expert panels recommend exploring additional methods to manage CINV symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture-point stimulation for managing acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving various acupuncture-point stimulation methods (needles, electroacupuncture, acupressure, magnets).
• Searched multiple databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane registers.
• Pooled data using fixed effect models to calculate relative risks, standardized mean differences, and weighted mean differences.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture-point stimulation, as a whole, significantly reduced the incidence of acute vomiting (RR = 0.82).
• Electroacupuncture and needle stimulation were effective in reducing acute vomiting.
• Acupressure demonstrated a significant reduction in acute nausea severity (SMD = -0.19).
• Noninvasive electrostimulation showed no significant benefit.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture-point stimulation exhibits a biologic effect on CINV, complementing existing antiemetic therapies.
• Electroacupuncture shows potential for acute chemotherapy-induced vomiting, but further trials with state-of-the-art antiemetics and refractory patients are warranted.
• Self-administered acupressure may offer a protective effect against acute nausea and is easily teachable, though placebo-controlled studies are needed.