Acupuncture to treat acute radiotherapy side effects in head and neck cancer
Official title: Acupuncture as the Therapeutic Modalities of Acute Toxicity in the Radiotherapy of Head and Neck Tumors
Run by Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute · NCT03751566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding acupuncture to standard supportive care reduces acute side effects in people receiving curative or adjuvant radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brno) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 5, 2021 |
| Main results expected | September 4, 2023 |
| Study ends | October 4, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 25, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03751566 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are patients with head and neck cancer receiving curative or adjuvant radiotherapy, with performance status 1–2, at least grade 1 acute radiotoxic symptoms, and who can comply with acupuncture visits and keep a symptom diary.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients receiving palliative radiotherapy, those with performance status of 3, or patients unwilling or unable to comply with acupuncture sessions and diary keeping are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial will enroll 100 patients undergoing curative or adjuvant radiotherapy for head and neck tumors who have at least grade 1 acute radiotoxic symptoms and randomize them 1:1 to standard supportive care alone or standard care plus individualized acupuncture. Acupuncture points and treatments will be documented, patients will keep symptom diaries, and skin toxicity will be photographed. Randomization is by ticket and enrollment is managed to balance arms so that after one arm reaches 50 patients subsequent enrollment favors the other arm until the target is met. Outcomes focus on changes in acute radiotherapy toxicity, symptom burden, and supportive medication use during treatment and follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, acupuncture could reduce acute radiotherapy symptoms such as mucositis, pain, or skin toxicity and improve treatment tolerability and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small trials and pilot studies have reported symptomatic benefits of acupuncture for some radiation-related problems like xerostomia and mucositis, but high-quality randomized evidence is limited and results are mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Curative and adjuvant radiotherapy for head and neck tumors; * PS 1-2; * Patient collaboration in evaluation of the toxicity diary. Exclusion Criteria: * Palliative radiotherapy in the head and neck tumor; * PS 3; * Non-compliance of the patient.
Where it's running
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Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute
Brno, Czechia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Renata Hejnová, Msc
- Email: renata.hejnova@mou.cz
- Phone: +42054313
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.