Needles vs. nerve pain: can acupuncture shield breast cancer patients from chemotherapy side effects?

NCT ID NCT05458284

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 05, 2026 · Last updated Aug 06, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether acupuncture can prevent taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) — nerve damage causing pain and tingling in arms and legs — from worsening in breast cancer patients receiving weekly taxane chemotherapy. Participants with early-stage breast cancer who already have mild TIPN will receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture weekly until chemotherapy ends. The study compares the two to see if real acupuncture can keep nerve pain from progressing and protect quality of life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Real acupuncture (thin needles inserted at specific body sites) compared with sham acupuncture (different needles and sites)
What this could lead to: If real acupuncture works, it could offer a drug-free way to prevent chemotherapy-induced nerve pain from worsening, helping breast cancer patients maintain quality of life during treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a phase II trial with only 80 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The sham acupuncture is a strong placebo control, and real acupuncture may not prove more effective. Acupuncture is generally safe but may cause minor bruising or soreness.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm chemotherapy-induced neuropathy peripheral nervous system disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER TAXANE-INDUCED PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

Rockville Centre, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Suffolk- Commack

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States

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