Effects of acupuncture on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Comparison efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies in breast cancer-related lymphedema: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Although several acupuncture and moxibustion therapies have been tested in managing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), there is little consensus regarding the best options for treating this condition. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the efficacy of various acupuncture and/or moxibustion therapies for BCRL.

METHODS

Seven databases and two clinical registration centers were searched from their inception to December 1st, 2023. The Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias assessment tool evaluated the quality of included RCTs. A pairwise meta-analysis was performed in STATA 16.0, while a network meta-analysis was performed in R 4.2.2.

RESULTS

18 studies were included in this analysis. Our results showed that acupuncture and moxibustion methods had great advantages in improving BCRL of patients with breast cancer. In particular, needle-warming moxibustion (NWM) could be the optimal acupuncture and moxibustion method for improving clinical effectiveness and reducing the degree of swelling of affected limbs.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that NWM has great potential in treating BCRL. It may reduce arm circumference, lower swelling levels, and improve clinical effectiveness. Nevertheless, more multi-center, high-quality, and large sample RCTs will be needed in the future.

Comparative efficacy of acupuncture, venesection, and physical therapy on chronic low back pain outcomes: a randomized clinical trial

Objective

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) imposes considerable financial and social burden with poor response to medical and surgical treatments. Alternatively, acupuncture and venesection(Fasd) are traditionally used to alleviate nociceptive and musculoskeletal pains. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of acupuncture and venesection on CLBP and patient functionality.

Methods

The current study was a single-blinded, randomized clinical trial with balanced allocation, conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medicine, in 2022. One hundred five CLBP patients who had no back pain-attributable structural or major diseases were randomly allocated into three parallel arms and received either physical therapy (PTG), acupuncture (APG), or venesection (VSG). Pain severity and functional aspects were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) during the study. VAS and ODI scores were defined as the primary outcomes.

Results

Ninety-five patients were reviewed in the final analysis (PTG=33, APG=30, VSG=31). Demographic data showed equal group distribution. Statistical analysis showed all procedures had reduced VAS score immediately after the first session, after the last session, and after follow-up; however, APG and VSG values were significantly lower (P<0.05). Pain reduction results in follow-up period were more sustainable in APG and VSG as compared to PTG (P<0.01). ODI results revealed global improvement after the last session of the treatment in all groups, while APG had more significant results (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, ODI still tended to decrease in VSG, non-significantly increased in APG, and significantly increased in PTG. Only two patients reported fainting after receiving venesection.

Conclusion

Considering the pain and functional scores, both acupuncture and venesection can reproduce reliable results. Acupuncture and venesection both have sustained effects on pain and daily function of the patients even after treatment termination, while physical therapy had more relapse in pain and functional limitations.

Quality of evidence supporting the role of acupuncture for breast cancer-related lymphoedema: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) may benefit from acupuncture as a therapeutic. However, the findings of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) are inconsistent and their quality needs to be evaluated critically. We aimed to provide an overview of the methodological quality, risk of bias, quality of reporting, and quality of evidence for SRs/MAs of acupuncture for BCRL.

METHODS

Publications were retrieved from four Chinese databases and four English databases. The methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality, and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs were assessed by two independent researchers using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), respectively.

RESULTS

There were a total of 8 SRs/MAs included. By AMSTAR-2, all SRs/MAs were graded as having low or very low methodological quality. By ROBIS, all SRs/MAs in phase 1, domain 1, and domain 4 of phase 2 were at low risk, while in domain 2 were at high risk. By PRISMA, reporting weaknesses in protocol and registration, as well as search method, were identified. By GRADE, the level of evidence quality was "low" to "very low", and the most commonly downgraded factor was the risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture may be beneficial in improving BCRL. However, due to the identified limitations and conflicting findings, further more prescriptive and rigorous SRs/MAs are required to give strong evidence for final judgments.

Acupuncture for cancer-related conditions: An overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is commonly used for cancer-related conditions worldwide, and evidence is increasing year on year. There is a need to summarize the evidence of acupuncture for cancer-related conditions comprehensively and critically.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and summarize the systematic reviews (SRs) that assess the effects and safety of acupuncture for cancer-related conditions, and to inform clinical practice and future studies.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, Sinomed, and Wanfang from their inception to October 16, 2021. SRs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for cancer-related conditions were to be included. Two reviewers screened the eligible articles, and four reviewers in pair extracted data and assessed the methodological quality/risk of bias of all included reviews by AMSTAR 2 and ROBIS tools. The overlap of primary studies was measured by calculating corrected covered areas. Data from the included reviews were synthesized with a summary of meta-analysis or narrative description.

RESULTS

Fifty-one SRs of RCTs on acupuncture for cancer-related conditions were included and synthesized. The methodological quality of SRs included 1 "high", 5 "low" and 45 "very low" by AMSTAR 2. Sixteen SRs assessed as low risk of bias (31.37%), and 35 SRs had high risk of bias (68.63%) by ROBIS. Acupuncture showed effective on systemic conditions in relation to different cancers, including cancer-related pain (17 SRs, 80 RCTs), fatigue (7 SRs, 18 RCTs), insomnia (4 SRs, 10 RCTs), quality of life (2 SRs, 15 RCTs); conditions in relation to chemo-radiotherapy, including nausea and vomiting (3 SRs, 36 RCTs) and bone marrow suppression (2 SRs, 21 RCTs); and conditions in relation to specific cancers, including breast cancer-related menopause (3 SRs, 6 RCTs), hot flashes (12 SRs, 13 RCTs), arthralgia (5 SRs, 10 RCTs), and nasopharyngeal cancer-related dysphagia (1 SRs, 7 RCTs). Acupuncture appeared to have benefit for patients with lymphoedema (3 SRs, 3 RCTs), gastrointestinal function (5 SRs, 27 RCTs), and xerostomia (4 SRs, 7 RCTs). Limited evidence showed inconsistent results on acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (3 SRs, 6 RCTs), depression and anxiety (3 SRs, 9 RCTs). Acupuncture was regarded as a safe therapy for cancer patients as no severe adverse events related were reported.

CONCLUSION

Evidence from SRs showed that acupuncture is beneficial to cancer survivors with cancer-related pain, fatigue, insomnia, improved quality of life, nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, menopausal symptoms, arthralgia, and dysphagia, and may also be potential for lymphoedema, gastrointestinal function, and xerostomia. For neuropathy, depression and anxiety, acupuncture should be used as an option based on individual conditions. Acupuncture is relatively safe without serious adverse events. More well-designed clinical trials of acupuncture are recommended on cancer-related depression and anxiety, arthralgia, xerostomia, gastrointestinal dysfunction and dysphagia.

Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective:

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods:

We retrieved RCTs published before January 24, 2021, from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (VIP), and Wanfang databases. RCTs that compared acupuncture and/or moxibustion intervention with other treatments were included. A random effects or fixed effects model was used based on the heterogeneity findings. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results:

We included 14 RCTs in the analyses, of which 4 RCTs adopted acupuncture, 4 RCTs used moxibustion, and the rest used both. AM significantly reduced arm circumference at the elbow crease compared to routine care (Mean deviation (MD) = −7.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −8.30 to −6.21, P < .00001). There was a significant difference between AM and diosmin tablets in the effective index for upper limb lymphedema (MD = 24.68, 95% CI = 24.82-30.53, P < .00001), the range of motion of the shoulder during protraction (MD = 6.77, 95% CI = 2.81-10.73, P = .0008), and adduction (MD = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.02-7.32, P = .01). There was a significant difference between moxibustion and pneumatic circulation (MD = −0.51, 95% CI = −0.85 to −0.17, P = .003) in the visual analog score (VAS) for swelling. Finally, compared to the blank control, acupuncture reduced the VAS for pain (MD = −1.33, 95% CI = −1.52 to −1.15, P < .00001; heterogeneity (I²) = 0%, P = .57).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that AM is effective in the treatment of BCRL. AM may reduce arm circumference at the elbow crease (compared to routine care), increase effective index for upper limb lymphedema (compared to oral diosmin tablets), improve the range of motion of the shoulder during protraction and adduction (compared to oral diosmin tablets), and decrease the VAS for both swelling (compared to pneumatic circulation) and pain (compared to blank control).

A feasibility trial of acupuncture in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a feasibility trial of acupuncture in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. The trial included training radiographers to deliver acupuncture within patients' routine NHS care.

METHODS

Mixed methods pragmatic randomized parallel-group exploratory feasibility trial comparing standard care to standard care plus acupuncture.

RESULTS

Most aspects of the research design and acupuncture intervention were acceptable to the 101 participants. Participants' valued the opportunity to receive acupuncture within their NHS care, perceived the treatment as eliciting a number of beneficial effects, and had a positive impact on their NHS cancer treatment. However, quantitative analysis of outcome measure data revealed no consistent significant differences between those receiving standard care and those receiving standard care plus acupuncture.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to implement acupuncture in a busy radiotherapy unit provided by specially trained radiographers. The methodology employed appears acceptable for the evaluation of acupuncture for radiotherapy patients.