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Feasibility Study for Electroacupuncture for Chemotherapy- Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

Feasibility Study for Electroacupuncture for Chemotherapy- Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) Using a Point-Of-Nerve Conduction Device (NeuroMetrix) and the Rydel-Seiffer Tuning Fork

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04092764
Enrollment
23
Registered
2019-09-17
Start date
2020-01-23
Completion date
2021-11-11
Last updated
2022-11-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Keywords

Numbness, Pain, Tingling, Reduced sense of touch, Reduced proprioception, Sensory Neuropathy

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to determine the validity of a point-of-care nerve conduction device (NeuroMetrix) and Rydel-Seiffer tuning fork in assessing the level of peripheral neuropathy in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, persistent toxicity among patients who receive chemotherapy. It is characterized by a variety of sensory and motor symptoms such as numbness, tingling, reduced sense of touch, reduced proprioception (awareness of your limb and body position in space), pain, weakness, balance disturbances, and deficits in motor skills.

Interventions

DEVICEElectroacupuncture

Participants will receive electroacupuncture for 30 minutes once per week for a total of 3 weeks. The acupoints will be stimulated by the electroacupuncture machine with alternating frequencies in order to induce endorphins at different points in the nervous system. Frequencies between 2 Hz and 100 Hz will be utilized. Sterile single-use needles will be placed at Ba Feng, four points on the dorsum of each foot between the digits. KI2 (Rang Gu), a point located at the soles of the feet and SP-4 (Gongsun) will also be needled per recommendation of our acupuncturist. A total of 12 needles will be used per participant.

DEVICENeuroMetrix

The NeuroMetrix is a point-of-care conduction device that will be used to measure peripheral neuropathy

DEVICERydel-Seiffer tuning fork

The level of periphal neuropathy will be measured by vibration detection using a Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork placed on the dorsum of the right great toe between the nail and the distal interphalangeal joint. The two arms of the 128 Hz tuning fork are fitted with calibrated weights at the ends, and as the amplitude decreases, the intersection of the triangles moves upward on the weight. This test will be performed three times and a mean of the scores calculated. Vibration sensation is lost sooner in CIPN, which means that lower scores are associated with increased CIPN

Sponsors

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants with Sensory Neuropathy

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Must have undergone chemotherapy with taxane and/or platinum agent * Presence of numbness, paresthesias, loss of deep tendon reflexes, or other symptoms in the lower extremities those were absent prior to treatment with neurotoxic chemotherapy. * Three or more months status post platinum containing chemotherapy completion * Grade ≥1 Level of CIPN that is determined by the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events.

Exclusion criteria

* Peripheral neuropathy from causes other than chemotherapy, such as documented * a. Nerve compression (carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, etc) * b. Previously known leptomeningeal carcinomatosis * c. Evidence of disease in the brain or spine by prior imaging * Comorbidities with documented pre-existing neuropathy prior to the chemotherapy such as * a. Diabetes (HbA1c 6.5% or greater) * b. HIV * c. Multiple myeloma * d. Alcoholism * Pain medication dosing, including opioids, anti-convulsants, and anti- depressantshas been increased due to worsening symptoms less than in the two weeks prior to study registration * Current use of acupuncture (manual or electro acupuncture) * Pregnancy * Cardiac issues (AHA class 3 or greater) * Pacemaker or an imbedded neural stimulator * Full therapeutic anticoagulation or a INR \> 1.4 * Currently undergoing chemotherapy with a platinum agent or have received a platinum chemotherapy agent in the past 3 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Accessing Level of Peripheral NeuropathyBaseline to 30 days after 3 week treatment sessionsParticipants with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) will have their level of periphal neuropathy assessed with the Rydel-Seiffer Tuning Fork while using a point-of-care conduction device (NeuroMetrix). The level of periphal neuropathy will be measured by vibration detection using a Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork placed on the dorsum of the right great toe between the nail and the distal interphalangeal joint. The two arms of the 128 Hz tuning fork are fitted with calibrated weights at the ends, and as the amplitude decreases, the intersection of the triangles moves upward on the weight. This test will be performed three times and a mean of the scores calculated. Vibration sensation is lost sooner in CIPN, which means that lower scores are associated with increased CIPN.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Quality of life Improvement measured with FACT/GOG-NTX QuestionnaireBaseline to 30 days after 3 week treatment sessionsQuality of life improvement with electroacupuncture treatment will be measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity questionnaire (FACT/GOG-NTX). The FACT/GOG-NTX questionnaire uses 37 questions with a scale ranging from 0-4, with 0 being Not at All and 4 being Very Much.
Quality of life Improvement measured the Neuropathic pain scale (NPS)Baseline to 30 days after 3 week treatment sessionsThe NPS has 3 questions using a scale ranging from 0-100 with 0 being No Numbess Sensation to 100 being Worst Numbness Imaginable. The NPS also has 10 Yes or No questions about pain. A score of 1 is given to each question answered Yes and a score of 0 to each questions answered No. The total score is calculated as the sum of the 10 questions, and the cut off value for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain is 4/10.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026