Axon Degeneration and Inflammation in Neuropathy: The Role of Acupuncture

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) induces debilitating long-term side-effects in breast cancer-survivors. This article describes some of the more-recent research in this area including a randomized controlled pilot trial the current author and colleagues performed to assess feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of acupuncture for treating CIPN in this population. In this randomized pilot trial of 40 breast-cancer survivors with CIPN after adjuvant taxane therapy, an 8-week acupuncture intervention (versus usual care) led to a statistically and clinically significant reduction in subjective sensory symptoms, including neuropathic pain and paresthesia. Given the lack of effective therapies and given the established safety profile of acupuncture, clinicians may consider acupuncture as a treatment option for mild-to-moderate CIPN in practice. Additional larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.