Electroacupuncture for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal symptoms in colorectal cancer: protocol for a multicenter, three-arm, randomized controlled trial.

Researchers are conducting a major study to determine whether electroacupuncture can help colorectal cancer patients manage difficult digestive side effects from chemotherapy. Between 40% and 100% of colorectal cancer patients experience gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and reflux during chemotherapy, which can significantly reduce quality of life and make it harder to continue treatment. Currently, there are few effective non-drug options to manage these symptoms.

This multicenter study will include 231 colorectal cancer patients experiencing digestive symptoms after chemotherapy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: electroacupuncture plus standard care, sham (fake) acupuncture plus standard care, or standard care alone. The electroacupuncture group will receive treatment at specific points (LI11, PC6, ST36, and ST37) with electrical stimulation, while the sham group receives non-acupuncture points with blunt needles and no stimulation. Both acupuncture groups will have three 30-minute sessions over consecutive days administered by certified acupuncturists.

Researchers will measure digestive symptoms, cancer-related quality of life, and anxiety and depression levels at the start of the study, immediately after treatment (day 3), and at follow-up (day 10). This is a protocol paper, meaning the study is planned but results are not yet available. If electroacupuncture proves effective, it could offer a safe, drug-free option to help cancer patients manage chemotherapy side effects, potentially improving their ability to complete treatment and maintain quality of life.

If you're interested in acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms, seek a licensed acupuncturist with experience in oncology supportive care.

This multicenter, three-arm RCT protocol aims to evaluate electroacupuncture efficacy for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction in colorectal cancer patients. The study will randomize 231 CRC patients with post-chemotherapy GI symptoms to electroacupuncture plus standard care, sham acupuncture plus standard care, or standard care alone. The EA protocol includes three consecutive 30-minute sessions targeting LI11, PC6, ST36, and ST37 with electrical stimulation, delivered by certified acupuncturists. The sham control uses non-acupoints with blunt-tip needles without stimulation. The primary outcome measures change in Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) total scores from baseline to day 3 post-treatment. Secondary outcomes include GSRS subscales, FACT-C scores, and SAS/SDS scores assessed at baseline, post-intervention (day 3), and follow-up (day 10). Analysis will employ intention-to-treat linear mixed-effects models. This protocol represents methodologically rigorous design addressing the significant clinical need for non-pharmacological interventions in managing GI toxicity affecting 40%-100% of CRC patients undergoing chemotherapy.