Acupuncture for Unintentional Weight Loss and Anorexia With GI Cancer
Malignant Neoplasm of Gastrointestinal Tract
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Malignant Neoplasm of Gastrointestinal Tract focused on measuring anorexia, cachexia, cancer, unintentional weigh loss, gastrointestinal tract, adults
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- 21 year or older
- medical diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer (for example, gastric, biliary, or colorectal)
- experienced weight loss of at least 5% over the last 6 months
- ability to communicate in English
- ability to follow the research protocol
Exclusion Criteria:
- plan to have surgical procedures at the time of recruitment
- receive radiation therapy alone or in addition to chemotherapy during the study period
- undergo surgery during the study or in the months prior to the study
- no plan to have chemotherapy after the surgery
- any comorbidities that may affect the interpretation of study findings
- open burn sites or infected wounds
- esophageal cancer or pancreatic cancer
- life expectancy of less than 6 months as assessed by attending physician
Sites / Locations
- University of Florida Clinical Research Center (CRC)
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Cachexia Acupuncture-A
General Acupuncture-B
Acupuncture-A group will receive acupuncture in a pre-determined set of the acupuncture points that are selected based on the potential mechanisms of cachexia. Intervention will be done by a licensed acupuncturist who has over 5 years of experience as an independent clinician and has experience particularly in the management of cancer related symptoms. Acupuncture treatment will consist of 8 sessions over 8 week period. Acupuncture needles: Single-use, sterile stainless steel and disposable [acupuncture needles-Peace Classic Needles®, Acu-Market] Other name: Mechanism based acupuncture
General Acupuncture-B group will receive acupuncture in a pre-determined set of the acupuncture points. These points are the real acupuncture points; however, these points are not specific to cachexia management. Participants will receive the acupuncture treatment over 8 weeks (total of 8 sessions) in the same manner as the experimental group; the only difference will be the place(type) and number of points targeted. Acupuncture needles: single-use, sterile stainless steel and disposable needles [Peace Classic Needles®, Acu-Market] Other name: General acupuncture