Hot FlashesNCT05460819
Acupuncture for Hot Flashes in Patients With Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer.
A study testing Acupuncture treatment in people with Hot Flashes and Breast Cancer, run by Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study intends to further evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture by comparing the intervention effects of different acupuncture treatment regimens on hot flashes in breast cancer ; and to explore the central effect regulation mechanism of acupuncture intervention on hot flashes based on functional magnetic resonance… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Hot Flashes, Breast Cancer, Acupuncture
- What is being tested?
- Acupuncture treatment
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2022to 31 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18-75 years old;
- Adjuvant hormone therapy (eg, tamoxifen and/or aromatase inhibitors) with or without ovarian function suppression has been administered for at least 4 weeks and is currently on treatment;
- Vasomotor syndrome for at least 6 weeks;
- Premenopausal or postmenopausal patients;
- Patients with persistent hot flashes for at least 4 weeks and with a frequency of more than 14 hot flashes per week (2 times per day) in the week before inclusion in the study, the weekly average hot flash composite score is 3-4;
- Patients after surgery and after chemotherapy (if any);
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 0-1 points.
- Sign the informed consent and voluntarily participate in this clinical observation.
Who cannot join
- Tumor metastases, undergoing chemoradiotherapy or planning surgery;
- Pharmacological intervention for hot flashes with hot flash treatment drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and/or anticonvulsants for at least 4 weeks prior to study initiation;
- Unstable heart disease or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study start;
- Started or changed adjuvant hormone therapy within the past week, or who planned to start or change adjuvant hormone therapy in the past 14 weeks;
- Seizures of unknown likelihood or history of seizures;
- Have used acupuncture for hot flashes within 6 months prior to the start of the study;
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- Pregnant or breastfeeding patients;
- Apparent uncontrolled infection;
- Mental illness or family history; neurological disorder or family history.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site
Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medcine
Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029
Lijun Bai, PHD, 0086-15129034948, bailijun@xjtu.edu.cn
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Patients With Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer.
This study intends to further evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture by comparing the intervention effects of different acupuncture treatment regimens on hot flashes in breast cancer ; and to explore the central effect regulation mechanism of acupuncture intervention on hot flashes based on functional magnetic resonance imaging technology.
Read the detailed description
This topic combines the theory of "unblocking the governor and warming the yang" with the important findings of modern research, that is, the important mechanism of the spine in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, and innovatively proposes the technique of unblocking the governor and treating the spine. Prospective clinical intervention research in rehabilitation, objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of this technology, so as to effectively break through the current application dilemma of acupuncture and bone-setting manipulation in tumor diseases.
- Conditions
- Hot Flashes, Breast Cancer, Acupuncture
- Being tested
- Acupuncture treatment, Sham Acupuncture treatment
- Keywords
- breast cancer, Acupuncture, hot flashes, Functional MRI
- Medical subject headings
- Hot Flashes, Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Acupuncture treatmentOther
Acupoint selection: Hegu-Yinxi acupoint group (clearing heat and relieving sweat), Sanyinjiao-Fuliu acupoint group (nourishing yin and tonifying kidney), Tianshu-uteri acupoint group (special effect points) (12 acupoints on both sides).
Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment.
Operation: Use a one-time sterile acupuncture needle (0.30×40mm, Huatuo brand), insert the needle 0.5 inch along the anatomical position, level up and relieve the qi, and keep the needle for 20 minutes.
Sham Acupuncture treatmentOther
Selecting acupoints: Select the side opening positions of the 6 acupuncture points in the real acupuncture group, and select non-meridian and non-points (points with less nerve distribution, sparseness, and rich muscles).
Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment.
Operation: ① Shallow needling scheme: use a disposable sterile acupuncture needle, insert the needle 0.2 inch, without twisting, and keep the needle for 20 minutes. ②Non-invasive acupuncture plan: choose a special comfort needle with no needle tip at the top of the needle, paste a disposable sterile foam pad on the non-acupoint, and use a disposable sterile flat head The acupuncture needles were pierced into the foam pad, lightly touching but not piercing the skin, and not breathing; the needles were kept for 20 minutes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment group A | Experimental | Treatment group A was given endocrine and acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks (24 times in total, 3 times a week); followed up for 16 weeks, no acupuncture treatment. Receives: Other: Acupuncture treatment |
| Treatment group B | Sham comparator | Treatment group B was given endocrine and sham acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks, followed up for 16 weeks, no acupuncture during the period, and after 16 weeks, received standardized acupuncture for 8 weeks (24 times in total, 3 times a week). Receives: Other: Sham Acupuncture treatment |
| control | No intervention | The control group was given conventional adjuvant endocrine therapy, premenopausal patients received tamoxifen therapy, and postmenopausal patients received aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen therapy. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in cancer therapy functional assessment
Cancer therapy functional assessment scores will be assessed with Cancer Therapy Functional Assessment-Breast cancer, version 4.The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 185. The higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Change in acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment
Acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment scores will be assessed with acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment. The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 20. The higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Change of functional connectivity of whole brain
Functional connectivity will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging based on blood oxygen level dependence.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Change of metabolism of glucose in the brain
Accumulation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG) will be analyzed by time-related Positron emission tomography.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Change of hot flash severity
Hot flash severity will be assessed with hot flash scores each week. There are four levels of severity： Mild: Duration: Less than five minutes. Symptoms: warmth, discomfort, flushing. Moderate: Duration: Up to fifteen minutes. Symptoms: warmth in head, neck, ears, or body; tense, tight muscles; clammy skin; change in heart rate or rhythm; light sweating; dry mouth.
Severe: Duration: Up to twenty minutes. Symptoms: Fever, sometimes like a crucible or burning sensation; change in heart rate or rhythm; feeling faint; headache; heavy sweating.
Very severe: Duration: Up to forty-five minutes. Symptoms: boiling heat; constant sweating; trouble breathing; feeling faint, dizzy; leg cramps or feeling cramps; change in heart rate; stomach upset.
The greater severity mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in sleep
Sleep scores will be assessed with Pittsburgh sleep quality index.The minimum value is 9, and the maximum value is 36. The higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jul 2022
- Study start1 Aug 2022 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hot FlashesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qianyan Liu, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Investigators
- Lijun Bai, phd, Study director, Xi'an Jiaotong University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05460819
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2022JC-55
- Status last verified
- Jul 2022
- First submitted
- 13 Jul 2022
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2022
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jul 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial Study of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Patients With Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05460819
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2022JC-55
- Conditions
- Hot Flashes, Breast Cancer, Acupuncture
- Keywords
- breast cancer, Acupuncture, hot flashes, Functional MRI
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2022 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study intends to further evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture by comparing the intervention effects of different acupuncture treatment regimens on hot flashes in breast cancer ; and to explore the central effect regulation mechanism of acupuncture intervention on hot flashes based on functional magnetic resonance imaging technology.
Detailed description
This topic combines the theory of "unblocking the governor and warming the yang" with the important findings of modern research, that is, the important mechanism of the spine in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, and innovatively proposes the technique of unblocking the governor and treating the spine. Prospective clinical intervention research in rehabilitation, objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of this technology, so as to effectively break through the current application dilemma of acupuncture and bone-setting manipulation in tumor diseases.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment group A | Experimental | Other: Acupuncture treatmentTreatment group A was given endocrine and acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks (24 times in total, 3 times a week); followed up for 16 weeks, no acupuncture treatment. |
| Treatment group B | Sham comparator | Other: Sham Acupuncture treatmentTreatment group B was given endocrine and sham acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks, followed up for 16 weeks, no acupuncture during the period, and after 16 weeks, received standardized acupuncture for 8 weeks (24 times in total, 3 times a week). |
| control | No intervention | –The control group was given conventional adjuvant endocrine therapy, premenopausal patients received tamoxifen therapy, and postmenopausal patients received aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen therapy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Aged 18-75 years old;
- Adjuvant hormone therapy (eg, tamoxifen and/or aromatase inhibitors) with or without ovarian function suppression has been administered for at least 4 weeks and is currently on treatment;
- Vasomotor syndrome for at least 6 weeks;
- Premenopausal or postmenopausal patients;
- Patients with persistent hot flashes for at least 4 weeks and with a frequency of more than 14 hot flashes per week (2 times per day) in the week before inclusion in the study, the weekly average hot flash composite score is 3-4;
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Tumor metastases, undergoing chemoradiotherapy or planning surgery;
- Pharmacological intervention for hot flashes with hot flash treatment drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and/or anticonvulsants for at least 4 weeks prior to study initiation;
- Unstable heart disease or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study start;
- Started or changed adjuvant hormone therapy within the past week, or who planned to start or change adjuvant hormone therapy in the past 14 weeks;
- Seizures of unknown likelihood or history of seizures;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture treatmentAcupoint selection: Hegu-Yinxi acupoint group (clearing heat and relieving sweat), Sanyinjiao-Fuliu acupoint group (nourishing yin and tonifying kidney), Tianshu-uteri acupoint group (special effect points) (12 acupoints on both sides). Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment. Operation: Use a one-time sterile acupuncture needle (0.30×40mm, Huatuo brand), insert the needle 0.5 inch along the anatomical position, level up and relieve the qi, and keep the needle for 20 minutes. | Other | Treatment group A |
| Sham Acupuncture treatmentSelecting acupoints: Select the side opening positions of the 6 acupuncture points in the real acupuncture group, and select non-meridian and non-points (points with less nerve distribution, sparseness, and rich muscles). Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment. Operation: ① Shallow needling scheme: use a disposable sterile acupuncture needle, insert the needle 0.2 inch, without twisting, and keep the needle for 20 minutes. ②Non-invasive acupuncture plan: choose a special comfort needle with no needle tip at the top of the needle, paste a disposable sterile foam pad on the non-acupoint, and use a disposable sterile flat head The acupuncture needles were pierced into the foam pad, lightly touching but not piercing the skin, and not breathing; the needles were kept for 20 minutes. | Other | Treatment group B |
Primary outcome
Change in cancer therapy functional assessment
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Cancer therapy functional assessment scores will be assessed with Cancer Therapy Functional Assessment-Breast cancer, version 4.The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 185. The higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Change in acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment scores will be assessed with acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment. The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 20. The higher scores mean a better outcome.
Change of functional connectivity of whole brain
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Functional connectivity will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging based on blood oxygen level dependence.
Change of metabolism of glucose in the brain
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Accumulation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG) will be analyzed by time-related Positron emission tomography.
Change of hot flash severity
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Hot flash severity will be assessed with hot flash scores each week. There are four levels of severity： Mild: Duration: Less than five minutes. Symptoms: warmth, discomfort, flushing. Moderate: Duration: Up to fifteen minutes. Symptoms: warmth in head, neck, ears, or body; tense, tight muscles; clammy skin; change in heart rate or rhythm; light sweating; dry mouth. Severe: Duration: Up to twenty minutes. Symptoms: Fever, sometimes like a crucible or burning sensation; change in heart rate or rhythm; feeling faint; headache; heavy sweating. Very severe: Duration: Up to forty-five minutes. Symptoms: boiling heat; constant sweating; trouble breathing; feeling faint, dizzy; leg cramps or feeling cramps; change in heart rate; stomach upset. The greater severity mean a worse outcome.
1 secondary outcome
Change in sleep
Time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jul 2022.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Lijun Bai, phd study director
Xi'an Jiaotong University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Acupuncture treatment in people with Hot Flashes and Breast Cancer, run by Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Lijun Bai, phd (0086-15129034948, bailijun@xjtu.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in cancer therapy functional assessment (time frame: Baseline, 8,24 weeks later). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jul 2022; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.