@article{Tao2026, 
author = {Xinlong Tao and Zhen Liu and Miaozhou Wang and Dengfeng Ren and Fuxing Zhao and Hongbin Wang and Guowang Yang and Ganlin Zhang and Zitao Li and Zhilin Liu and Shifen Huang and Yongzhi Chen and Mengting Da and Xiaoyan Ma and Hongxia Liang and Yongxin Li and Yinyin Ye and Yonghui Zheng and Xiao Liang and Guoshuang Shen and Xiaorong Bai and Jiuda Zhao},
title = {Electroacupuncture for Managing Chemotherapy‐Induced Gastrointestinal Symptom Clusters in Patients With Breast Cancer: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial},
year = {2026},
journal = {Health Care Science},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {85-94},
keywords = {breast cancer, chemotherapy‐induced gastrointestinal symptom clusters, electroacupuncture, standard quadruple antiemetic therapy},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1002/hcs2.70056},
doi = {10.1002/hcs2.70056},
abstract = {IntroductionChemotherapy‐induced gastrointestinal symptom clusters in breast cancer impair quality of life and treatment adherence, yet lack effective interventions. While acupuncture mitigates isolated chemotherapy‐induced symptoms, its mechanisms for multi‐symptom clusters remain unclear. This study evaluates electroacupuncture's efficacy and explores its biological mechanisms in managing these clusters.MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, block‐randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled trial will enroll 388 patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy, to be randomly assigned (1:1) to electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture groups. Both groups will receive the standard quadruple antiemetic regimen combined with electroacupuncture or sham intervention. The primary endpoint is the incidence of chemotherapy‐induced gastrointestinal symptom clusters within 120 h after chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints include improvement in gastrointestinal symptom clusters post‐first chemotherapy cycle, nausea‐free rates during acute and delayed phases, vomiting‐free rates during overall, acute, and delayed phases, complete response rate, complete protection rate, and quality of life. Adverse events will be documented throughout the study.DiscussionThis study will assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in alleviating chemotherapy‐induced gastrointestinal symptom clusters in patients with breast cancer. By integrating multi‐omics analyses, we aim to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects. The findings may offer a robust clinical foundation for optimizing symptom cluster management in cancer care.Trial RegistrationClinical Trials ID: NCT06952920. Date of registration: April 16, 2025. Prospectively registered. URL of Trial Registry Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06952920cond=NCT06952920&rank=1.}
}