This randomized clinical trial studies how well personalized electroacupuncture therapy or battle field acupuncture therapy works in reducing pain that originates in the bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments in patients with cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body. Electroacupuncture therapy or battle field acupuncture therapy may help relieve chronic pain caused by cancer and may help guide the personalized delivery of acupuncture for patients with chronic pain.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT02979574.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare the effects of electroacupuncture therapy (electro-acupuncture [EA]) versus (vs.) battle field acupuncture (BFA) vs. waitlist control usual care (WLC) on patient-reported pain (primary outcome), physical functions, and co-morbid symptoms (fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among patients experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain for three months or greater.
II. To determine the interaction between outcome expectancy and type of needling delivery (EA vs. BFA) on pain reduction.
III. To evaluate the association between specific genetic polymorphisms and patients' responses to acupuncture.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 arms.
ARM I: Patients undergo 10 EA sessions for 30 minutes each over 10 weeks. Patients may receive at most 2 sessions per week.
ARM II: Patients undergo 10 BFA sessions for 10-20 minutes each over 10 weeks. Patients may receive at most 2 sessions per week.
ARM III: Patients are placed on WLC and undergo standard medical care and pain management. After 12 weeks, patients may undergo EA as in Arm I or BFA as in Arm II based on personal preference.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 2, 6, and 14 weeks.
Trial PhaseNo phase specified
Trial Typesupportive care
Lead OrganizationMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Principal InvestigatorJun J. Mao
