Acupuncture with different acupoint combinations for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Acupuncture is beneficial for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, the effect of different acupoint combinations on controlling CINV remains unknown. This study aims to compare the effects of distal-proximal point association and local distribution point association on controlling CINV.


METHODS
The study is a single-center, randomized controlled trial. A total of 240 participants will be randomly divided into four groups. The control group will receive standard antiemetic only, whereas three acupuncture groups will receive four electro-acupuncture treatments once a day with the standard antiemetic. Acupuncture group I and II will receive distal-proximal point association ("Neiguan (PC6) and Zhongwan (CV12)", and "Zusanli (ST36) and CV12", respectively); Acupuncture group III will receive local distribution point association ("Shangwan (CV13) and CV12"). The primary outcome measures are the frequency and distress of nausea and vomiting. The secondary outcome measures are the grade of constipation and diarrhea, electrogastrogram, quality of life, etc. Assessment is scheduled from the day before chemotherapy to the fifth day of chemotherapy. Follow-ups are performed from the sixth day to the twenty-first day of chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this trial will help in evaluating the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture with different acupoint combinations in the management of CINV.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02478047 .
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Lili
L
Gao
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Bo
B
Chen
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Qiwen
Q
Zhang
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Tianyi
T
Zhao
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Bo
B
Li
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Tao
T
Sha
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Jinxin
J
Zou
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Yongming
Y
Guo
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China. panxingfang@163.com.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China. panxingfang@163.com.
Xingfang
X
Pan
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China. guoyi_168@163.com.|Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 312, Anshan West Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, China. guoyi_168@163.com.
Yi
Y
Guo
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
Acupoint combination; Acupuncture; Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; Randomized controlled trial