This study is testing whether acupuncture at a point on the wrist called "Neiguan" can help reduce nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. Participants will receive either real acupuncture or standard care. We hope to find a safe way to improve comfort during cancer treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
Add-on manual acupuncture at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) to standard quadruple anti-emetic prophylaxis. Disposable sterile acupuncture needles inserted perpendicularly 0.5-1 cun (approximately 10-25 mm) into Neiguan with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation; needles retained for 30 minutes. Administered once daily throughout the conditioning (preparative) regimen. This distinguishes the intervention from: (1) the active comparator arm in this study, which receives identical pharmacological prophylaxis without acupuncture; and (2) other acupuncture trials that may use electroacupuncture, different acupoints, variable needle depths, or shorter treatment durations.
Standard quadruple pharmacological anti-emetic prophylaxis comprising a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, an NK-1 receptor antagonist, dexamethasone, and olanzapine, administered per institutional HSCT supportive care protocol. No acupuncture or sham procedure is provided. This distinguishes the arm from the experimental arm, which receives the identical pharmacological regimen plus add-on manual acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6).
The General Hospital of Western Theater Command
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting during the conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Time frame: Throughout the conditioning period (approximately 3-7 days)
Nutritional status assessed by serum albumin and prealbumin levels
Time frame: Baseline (pre-conditioning), Day 7, Day14, and Day 28 of conditioning, and Day 30 post-transplant
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