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Acupuncture vs Massage for Insomnia and Pain in Advanced Cancer: Exploratory RCT
Eunbin Kwag1, Rose Wy Fok2, Qing SLi3
1Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Present address: Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|July 18, 2026
Summary
Acupuncture and massage therapy effectively improved insomnia in advanced cancer patients with pain. These therapies demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between sleep and pain, highlighting the need for integrated symptom management.
Area of Science:
- Integrative oncology
- Palliative care
- Symptom management
Background:
- Insomnia affects over half of advanced cancer patients, often co-occurring with pain.
- There is a need for effective, well-tolerated insomnia treatments in this population.
- This study investigated acupuncture and massage for insomnia in patients with comorbid pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of acupuncture and massage therapy for insomnia symptoms in advanced cancer patients with pain.
- To examine the relationship between improvements in sleep and pain.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial was conducted.
- 234 advanced cancer patients with insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI] ≥ 8) were included.
- Participants received 10 weeks of acupuncture or massage, with follow-up to 26 weeks.
Main Results:
- Both acupuncture and massage significantly improved insomnia severity (ISI scores) at 10 weeks, with no significant difference between groups.
- Pain responders showed greater insomnia improvement at week 10.
- Insomnia responders demonstrated significant pain reduction at both 10 and 26 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture and massage therapy are effective in improving insomnia symptoms in advanced cancer patients.
- A bidirectional relationship exists between sleep and pain, supporting integrated treatment approaches for symptom clusters.
