Can acupuncture and ice chips beat chemo nerve damage?
NCT ID NCT04505553
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial looked at whether adding acupuncture and acupressure to oral cryotherapy (sucking on ice chips) can reduce nerve pain caused by oxaliplatin chemotherapy in people with gastrointestinal cancers. 78 patients were split into two groups: one got cryotherapy alone, the other got cryotherapy plus acupuncture and acupressure. The study measured changes in nerve pain severity over three months using a standard questionnaire.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Acupuncture, acupressure, and oral cryotherapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to ease nerve pain from chemotherapy for people with gastrointestinal cancers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 78 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The added benefit of acupuncture over cryotherapy alone may be small or none.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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78 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2021
- Finished
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Mar 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * GI cancer (primary esophagus, gastric, pancreas, biliary, liver, small bowel, appendix, colon, rectal, anal, or gastrointestinal/pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor) scheduled to receive a new start of fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, +/- irinotecan (fluorouracil/leucovorin calcium/oxaliplatin \[FOLFOX\], fluorouracil/irinotecan/leucovorin calcium/oxaliplatin \[FOLFIRINOX\], leucovorin/fluorouracil/oxaliplatin/irinotecan \[FOLFOXIRI\] regimens) with plan for \>= 3 months of therapy with the regimen. Chemotherapy can be given for neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative intent. 1 dose (cycle) of the intended regimen is permitted prior to study enrollment. \*\*There is no limitation on the addition of a biologic agent to one of the above chemotherapy regimens, including, but not limited to: bevacizumab, cetuximab, panitumumab, trastuzumab, or the biosimilars of these agents * Age \>=18 years * Absolute neutrophil count \> 0.5 thousand/microL * Platelet count \> 20 thousand/microL * Not currently pregnant * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Baseline peripheral neuropathy from any cause * Planned oxaliplatin with capecitabine * Planned initial dose of oxaliplatin \< 100% of the standard regimen-specified dose. For most regimens, this would be 85 mg/m\^2 intravenously (IV) dosed every 14 days * Receipt of acupuncture treatment in the prior 3 months * Use of concomitant duloxetine for minimization of neuropathy * Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
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