Acupuncture for Chronic Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer
Cohen L, Danhauer SC, Garcia MK, Dressler EV, Rosenthal DI, Chambers MS, Cusimano A, Brown WM, Ochoa JM, Yang P, Chiang JS, Gordon O, Crutcher R, Kim JK, Russin MP, Lukenbill J, Porosnicu M, Yost KJ, Weaver KE, Lesser GJ · JAMA Network Open · 2024 May 13
DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10421
Objective
To investigate whether true acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture or standard oral hygiene for treating chronic radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer.
Conclusions
The findings of this trial suggest that true acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture or standard oral hygiene in treating chronic radiation-induced xerostomia at least 1 year after radiotherapy and improved quality of life.
Critical Appraisal
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Insights
True acupuncture improved chronic dry mouth symptoms and quality of life more than sham treatment or oral hygiene alone after head and neck cancer radiotherapy.
This multicentre, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial enrolled head and neck cancer survivors with moderate to severe chronic dry mouth beginning at least a year after radiotherapy. All participants received standard oral hygiene advice and were assigned to true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or oral hygiene alone. Acupuncture and sham treatments were delivered twice weekly for four weeks, with an additional treatment period for participants showing a minor response. Patient-reported dry mouth symptoms and overall quality of life were assessed repeatedly over follow-up, using intention-to-treat analyses.
True acupuncture produced greater improvement in dry mouth symptoms than oral hygiene alone and showed an advantage over sham acupuncture at the primary assessment, although the comparison did not remain statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Sham acupuncture did not differ meaningfully from oral hygiene alone. True acupuncture also improved overall quality of life compared with oral hygiene alone and, at later follow-up, compared with both sham acupuncture and oral hygiene alone.
