Bao, T., Goloubeva, O., Pelser, C., Porter, N., Primrose, J., Hester, L., . . . Badros, A.Z. (2014). A pilot study of acupuncture in treating bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13, 396–404. 

To determine the effectiveness, safety, and convenience of acupuncture in decreasing bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN)

Patients were treated with 10 acupuncture treatments twice a week for two weeks, then once a week for four weeks, and then every other week for four weeks. Patients remained on their prescription PN medications.

• N = 20  
• MEDIAN AGE = 63 years
• AGE RANGE = 49–77 years
• MALES (%): Not stated, FEMALES (%): Not stated
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Multiple myeloma 
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients had received bortezomib 1–83 months ago, had continuing BIPN (grade 2 or greater), and were taking various medications for it, such as gabapentin, narcotics, amitriptyline, pregabalin, and duloxetine.

• SITE: Single site    
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
• LOCATION: University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Prospective study

• Clinical total neuropathy score
• Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group (FACT/GOG)
• Neurotoxicity questionnaire
• Neuropathy pain scale (NPS)
• Serum cytokines were drawn for correlative studies.

The Clinical Total Neuropathy Score was considered invalid because of reliability and validity issues in this setting. The FACT/GOG Neurotoxicity (Ntx) subscale and NPS scores demonstrated significant decreases in BIPN symptoms. Improvements in buttoning and walking at weeks 10 and 14 (p values < 0.0001) were observed. No differences in nerve conduction evaluations were reported from baseline to the completion of the study. No change in serum biomarkers were reported.

Acupuncture was demonstrated as a safe although inconvenient treatment for BIPN. Patients reported improvements in BIPN symptoms.

• Small sample ( <30)
• Risk of bias (no control group)
• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no random assignment)

The intervention produced a decrease in some BIPN symptoms. Acupuncture needs to be administered by a licensed therapist, which may not be a realistic treatment for all patients. A large, randomized trial is indicated for future research.