Acupuncture for Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy–Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Colon Cancer: A Retrospective Case Series

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating side-effect resulting from chemotherapy agents. CIPN is a significant concern for patients who have cancer, as CIPN has a negative impact on quality of life and can be a dose-limiting side-effect of chemotherapy, leading to decreased treatment efficacy. Currently, there are very few effective treatments for mitigating CIPN. However, several studies have shown that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)–based acupuncture may be effective for preventing and/or treating CIPN. This article describes the current authors' experience in an integrative oncology setting, illustrating the use of TCM-based acupuncture for treating CIPN resulting from oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimens. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case series of 10 patients who were treated by physicians at the Southwestern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at. At this medical center, advances in cancer treatment are combined with integrative oncology services, such as acupuncture, as a standard of care. Each patient who underwent acupuncture to treat or prevent CIPN received a TCM diagnosis and points were selected on an individual basis for each visit. Verbal consent was received and documented for each patient included in this report. Results: With the use of TCM-based acupuncture, the 10 patients had considerable improvement with respect to prevention and mitigation of symptoms associated with CIPN. Individualized treatment plans that utilized frequent, aggressive acupuncture to increase blood flow to distal points produced the best outcomes in these patients. Conclusions: The current authors' experience suggests that an individualized approach using TCM-based acupuncture may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of CIPN.