The Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District) has been committed to supporting Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (ICWM) Programme for cancer palliative care and engaged in research projects to promote evidence-based Chinese Medicine on cancer-related field.
A single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial investigated the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy was conducted between 2018 and 2020. Sixty CRC patients were randomly assigned to receive either EA or sham acupuncture (SA) once a week for 12 weeks in equal proportion during chemotherapy. The EA group showed significant reduction in CIPN severity and improvement in physical, role and social functions compared to the SA group. EA appeared safe and acceptable to patients. The study, published in Acupuncture in Medicine in 2022, provides preliminary evidence that EA may help alleviate acute CIPN in CRC patients, though more research is needed to confirm effects and examine EA for chronic CIPN.
This trial provides additional evidence for the ICWM Programme on cancer palliative care. Conducting the research has enhanced the Centre's research knowledge in evidence-based Chinese medicine and expanded its network of collaborations with Western medicine practitioners. The hands-on experience has stimulated greater enthusiasm for practical research among the Chinese medicine practitioners.
