Laser Acupuncture Attenuates Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Pilot Prospective Cohort Study. Issue 5 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsieh, Yueh-Ling; Chou, Li-Wei; Hong, Shao-Fu; Chang, Fei-Chi; Tseng, Szu-Wen; Huang, Chi-Chou; Yang, Ching-Hsiang; Yang, Chen-Chia; Chiu, Wei-Feng
• Is Part Of: Acupuncture in medicine. Volume 34:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: 405
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Acupuncture -- Periodicals; 615.892
• DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011112
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-5284

Abstract

Background: Oxaliplatin is a platinum compound that is widely used in the treatment of some solid tumours. Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) in the upper and lower extremities is the major adverse side effect and represents the main dose-limiting factor of this drug. The aim of this single-arm study was to evaluate the feasibility and effects of laser acupuncture (LA) in the treatment of OIPN in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Methods: 17 gastrointestinal cancer survivors (14 colorectal and 3 gastric cancers), who had been treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapies, were recruited. Low-level laser stimulation (50 mW) bilaterally at PC6, PC7, PC8, P9, LU11, SP6, KI3, BL60, KI1, and KI2 was administered for 20 min/point for 12 sessions over 4 weeks. The pain quality assessment scale (PQAS), chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity questionnaire (CINQ), oxaliplatin-specific neurotoxicity scale (OSNS), quantitative touch-detection threshold (using von Frey filaments), and cold-triggered pain withdrawal latency (using the cold-water immersion test) were measured before and after completion of the 12 treatment sessions. Results: PQAS, CINQ, and OSNS scores, as well as touch-detection threshold and cold-trigger pain withdrawal latency all improved significantly after LA in the cancer patients with OIPN (p<0.05). LA significantly relieved both oxaliplatin-induced cold and mechanical allodynia and also decreased the incidence and severity of neurotoxicity symptoms in the patients' upper and lower extremities and impact on their daily activities (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Following treatment with LA, neurotoxicity symptoms were significantly improved in cancer patients with OIPN. Further randomised controlled trials are needed to evaluate the role of LA as a therapeutic option in the management of OIPN.