The effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-associated gastrointestinal symptoms in gastric cancer

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are the most notable side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs; such symptoms are currently treated with drugs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of acupuncture on GI symptoms induced by chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods A cohort of 56 patients was randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. All patients received combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin-paclitaxel. Patients in the experimental group received 30 minutes of acupuncture therapy daily for 2 weeks. The frequency and duration of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, the average days and costs of hospitalization, and quality-of-life scores were compared between the groups. Results Nausea was sustained for 32 +/- 5 minutes and 11 +/- 3 minutes daily in the control and experimental groups respectively (p < 0.05). On average, vomiting occurred 2 +/- 1 times daily in the experimental group and 4 +/- 1 times daily in the control group (p < 0.05). Abdominal pain persisted for 7 +/- 2 minutes and 16 +/- 5 minutes daily in the experimental and control groups respectively (p < 0.05). On average, diarrhea occurred 1 +/- 1 times daily in the experimental group and 3 +/- 1 times daily in the control group (p < 0.05). The average quality-of-life score was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.05). No adverse events were observed for the patients receiving acupuncture. Conclusions Acupuncture, a safe technique, could significantly reduce GI symptoms induced by chemotherapy and enhance quality of life in patients with advanced gastric cancer.