Wenli Liu1, Gabriel Lopez2, Santhosshi Narayanan2, Aiham Qdaisat3, Yimin Geng4, Shouhao Zhou5, Michael Spano2, Susan Underwood2, Marie G Eclache2, Rony Dev2, Shalini Dalal2, Eduardo Bruera2, Lorenzo Cohen2. 1. Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. wenliliu@mdanderson.org. 2. Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. 3. Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. 4. Research Medical Library, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. 5. Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Loss of appetite/anorexia is extremely common among cancer patients, affecting as many as half of newly diagnosed patients and 70% of patients with advanced disease. Effective management of this disabling symptom of cancer remains a major challenge in the field of oncology. We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence on acupuncture and/or moxibustion as an intervention for cancer-related anorexia. RECENT FINDINGS: Acupuncture, as a part of traditional Chinese medicine practice, has demonstrated effectiveness in managing many cancer- and treatment-related symptoms, especially chemotherapy-induced or postoperative nausea. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in treating cancer-related anorexia/loss of appetite is not clear. The current level of evidence is insufficient to make a definitive conclusion on the benefit of acupuncture/moxibustion for treating chronic cancer-related anorexia/appetite problems. Future large randomized controlled trials of high methodological quality are needed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Loss of appetite/anorexia is extremely common among cancer patients, affecting as many as half of newly diagnosed patients and 70% of patients with advanced disease. Effective management of this disabling symptom of cancer remains a major challenge in the field of oncology. We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence on acupuncture and/or moxibustion as an intervention for cancer-related anorexia. RECENT FINDINGS: Acupuncture, as a part of traditional Chinese medicine practice, has demonstrated effectiveness in managing many cancer- and treatment-related symptoms, especially chemotherapy-induced or postoperative nausea. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in treating cancer-related anorexia/loss of appetite is not clear. The current level of evidence is insufficient to make a definitive conclusion on the benefit of acupuncture/moxibustion for treating chronic cancer-related anorexia/appetite problems. Future large randomized controlled trials of high methodological quality are needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Acupuncture; Anorexia; Cancer-related; Complimentary medicine; Integrative medicine; Loss of appetite
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