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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Elizabeth Dean-Clower, MD, MPH¹, Anne Doherty-Gilman, MPH¹, Frank Baker, PhD², Chiewkwei Kaw, MS³, Donoria Wilkerson³, Judith Manola, MS⁴, Aparna Keshaviah, ScM⁴, Emily Collins⁵, Alyssa DellaCroce, MPH⁵, Aravind Sugumar, MD, MPH¹, Kelechi Ohiri, MD, MPH¹, Amy Geng, MD¹, and David S. Rosenthal, MD⁶. (1) Leonard P. Zakim Ctr for Integrative Therapies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., SWB Rm. G-134, Boston, MA 02115, 617-632-5408, edeanclower@partners.org, (2) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, New York Medical College School of Public Health, School of Public Health Building, Valhalla, NY 10595, (3) Dept of Behavioral Medicine Research, American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, (4) Dept. of Biostastical Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115, (5) Dept of Quality Assurance for Clinical Trials, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115, (6) Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St,, SWB Rm. G-134, Boston, MA 02115

Cancer patients have significant rates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating pain, nausea and in improving well-being. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of administering acupuncture as adjuvant palliative therapy to patients with advanced cancer. Forty ambulatory female patients with advanced ovarian or breast cancer who were receiving conventional palliative care were recruited to receive acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks, twice weekly treatments during weeks 1-4, followed by weekly treatments during weeks 5-8. Acupuncturists followed a standardized acupuncture protocol. Patients also completed a quality of life (QOL) assessment comprised of BPI, SLDS-C, RSCL and the POMS at the following intervals: pre-treatment, then weeks 4, 8, 9, and 12. Twenty-six patients (65%) completed all 8 weeks of treatment, thereby achieving the study's main feasibility goal, defined as 50% completing the full treatment course. The majority of the 14 patients who did not complete the study treatment withdrew due to disease progression or scheduling difficulties. Over time, a significant decrease in symptom severity was seen for fatigue, pain, and insomnia. The decrease in nausea severity was marginally significant. QOL measures of pain severity and interference, physical and psychological distress, life satisfaction and mood states showed higher positive scores during acupuncture treatment than before treatment or after treatment was stopped. Further studies are now warranted with a larger population using proper controls to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving symptoms and QOL for patients with advanced cancer.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe methods used for assessing acupuncture's effectiveness for symptoms and QOL
• Evaluate results for use in patients with advanced cancer
• Discuss components needed for a larger study

Keywords: Cancer, Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No