Effect of True and Sham Acupuncture on Radiation-Induced Xerostomia Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Garcia MK, Meng Z, Rosenthal DI, Shen Y, Chambers M, Yang P, Wei Q, Hu C, Wu C, Bei W, Prinsloo S, Chiang J, Lopez G, Cohen L · JAMA Network Open · 2019 December 06
DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16910
Objective
To investigate whether acupuncture can prevent radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
Conclusions
The randomized clinical trial found that true acupuncture resulted in significantly fewer and less severe radiation-induced xerostomia symptoms one year after treatment than standard care control, although its effects compared with sham acupuncture varied between patients in the United States and China.
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Insights
Acupuncture during radiation therapy reduced long-term dry mouth symptoms more effectively than standard care for people with head and neck cancer.
This randomized clinical trial enrolled people with throat or upper nasal-throat cancers receiving radiation therapy at cancer centers in the United States and China. Participants were assigned to receive true acupuncture, simulated acupuncture delivered with a validated placebo device, or standard care alone. Acupuncture treatments were given three times weekly throughout the radiation course, and dry mouth symptoms, saliva production, quality of life, saliva characteristics, and expectations about acupuncture were assessed up to one year after treatment.
People receiving true acupuncture reported fewer and less severe radiation-related dry mouth symptoms one year later than those receiving standard care, with fewer developing clinically significant dry mouth. Outcomes for true acupuncture were generally better than simulated acupuncture, although this difference was clearer at the Chinese center than at the United States center, suggesting that contextual or population differences may influence responses to simulated treatment.
