The Feasibility and Effects of Acupuncture on Quality of Life Scores During Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer: Results from a Pilot, Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

Abstract Background: Within a pilot trial regarding chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, the secondary aim of the main study was explored. This involved measuring the effects—as shown on two key measurement scales reflecting quality of life (QoL)—of verum versus sham acupuncture on patients with ovarian cancer during chemotherapy. Objective: The aim of this substudy was to determine the feasibility of determining the effects of verum acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on QoL in patients with ovarian cancer during chemotherapy. Design: This was a randomized, sham-controlled trial. Setting: The trial was conducted at two cancer centers. Patients: Patients with ovarian cancer (N=21) who were receiving chemotherapy—primarily intravenous carboplatin and paclitaxel—participated in this substudy. Intervention: The participants were given either active or sham acupuncture 1 week prior to cycle 2 of chemotherapy. There were ten sessions of acupuncture, with manual and electro-stimulation over a 4-week period. Main O...