Randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients Journal Article


Authors: Deng, G.; Vickers, A.; Yeung, S.; D'Andrea, G.; Xiao, H.; Heerdt, A.; Sugarman, S.; Troso-Sandoval, T.; Seidman, A.; Hudis, C.; Cassileth, B.
Article Title: Randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients
Abstract: Purpose: To determine the immediate and long-term effects of true acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on hot flash frequency in women with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Seventy-two women with breast cancer experiencing three or more hot flashes per day were randomly assigned to receive either true or sham acupuncture. Interventions were given twice weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Hot flash frequency was evaluated at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months after initiation of treatment. Patients initially randomly assigned to the sham group were crossed over to true acupuncture starting at week 7. Results: The mean number of hot flashes per day was reduced from 8.7 (standard deviation [SD], 3.9) to 6.2 (SD, 4.2) in the true acupuncture group and from 10.0 (SD, 6.1) to 7.6 (SD, 5.7) in the sham group. True acupuncture was associated with 0.8 fewer hot flashes per day than sham at 6 weeks, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (95% CI, -0.7 to 2.4; P = .3). When participants in the sham acupuncture group were crossed over to true acupuncture, a further reduction in the frequency of hot flashes was seen. This reduction in hot flash frequency persisted for up to 6 months after the completion of treatment. Conclusion: Hot flash frequency in breast cancer patients was reduced following acupuncture. However, when compared with sham acupuncture, the reduction by the acupuncture regimen as provided in the current study did not reach statistical significance. We cannot exclude the possibility that a longer and more intense acupuncture intervention could produce a larger reduction of these symptoms. © 2007 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Keywords: controlled study; treatment outcome; middle aged; major clinical study; clinical trial; follow up; quality of life; controlled clinical trial; breast cancer; randomized controlled trial; morbidity; breast neoplasms; cancer research; survivors; acupuncture; hot flush; hot flashes
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 25
Issue: 35
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 2007-12-10
Start Page: 5584
End Page: 5590
Language: English
DOI: 10.1200/jco.2007.12.0774
PUBMED: 18065731
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 42" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: JCOND" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Andrew D Seidman
    318 Seidman
  2. Clifford Hudis
    905 Hudis
  3. Han Xiao
    60 Xiao
  4. Barrie R Cassileth
    198 Cassileth
  5. Gary E Deng
    77 Deng
  6. Alexandra S Heerdt
    110 Heerdt
  7. Andrew J Vickers
    882 Vickers
  8. Kwokwai Yeung
    36 Yeung