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Anthracyclines are among the most useful chemotherapeutic agents available today, but their toxicity is dose-limiting. The largest side-effect of these agents is cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression.A group of researchers from the Department of Gynecology, Federal University of S&atilde;o Paulo, Brazil, published their findings on the effects of acupuncture on myelosuppression and quality of life in women with breast cancer. Published in Supportive Care in Cancer, the study used a randomized, controlled design to determine whether acupuncture had any meaningful impact.The methodology report detailed that &ldquo;A quality of life questionnaire (FACT-G) and peripheral blood levels of the participants were evaluated before and at the end of treatment. The [acupuncture group] was submitted to an acupuncture intervention, starting before the first chemotherapy infusion, and continuing throughout the treatment.&rdquo;To determine the level of myelosuppression, the researchers looked at the participants&rsquo; need for secondary prophylaxis with granulocyte-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In the control group (n = 16), 72.7% required secondary prophylaxis with G-CSF, whereas, in the acupuncture group, only 12% percent needed G-CSF.Regarding the women&rsquo;s self-reported quality of life, the authors stated, &ldquo;the groups did not initially differ from each other,&rdquo; but added that, &ldquo;At the end of the treatment, there was a significant difference in the [acupuncture group] for the physical (GP) (p-value=0.011), social/family (GS) (p-value=0.018), and functional (GF) (p-value=0.010) domains.&rdquo;These results led the authors to conclude that acupuncture was effective as a secondary prophylaxis for myelosuppression and improved quality of life for women undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment with anthracyclines for breast cancer.<h3>Reference</h3><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-023-07616-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Effect of acupuncture in myelosuppression and quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized clinical study.</a>

Acupuncture for Myelosuppression in Breast Cancer Treatment With Anthracyclines

Breast Cancer

The treatment group demonstrated increased quality of life, but did acupuncture affect myelosuppression?

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