Randomized trial of electro-acupuncture for quality of life during adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer

Patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who undergo curative intent gastrectomy experience a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during adjuvant chemotherapy. The randomized EAGER trial, across 11 hospitals in China, evaluated the ability of electro-acupuncture (EA) to preserve HRQOL in these patients. The trial included 222 patients, who were randomized to high-frequency EA (HEA), low-frequency EA (LEA) or no EA during the first 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Gastric was reported by patients at baseline and once weekly during the therapy. HRQOL was significantly higher in both EA groups than in the no-EA group (p<0.001) whereas there was no significant HRQOL difference between both EA groups (p=0.557). Participants in the EA groups also had significantly improved disease-free survival and fewer grade 3-4 adverse events than participants in the no-EA group. The authors conclude that use of EA resuktede in higher HRQOL in gastric cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.