Holistic acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea
Official title: HOL-AKU: Holistic Acupuncture for Patients With Chemotherapy Induced Nausea
Run by Vejle Hospital · NCT07201194 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether adding acupuncture and acupressure to standard anti-nausea medicine helps adults receiving chemotherapy who still have nausea.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Vejle Hospital Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Vejle) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 17, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07201194 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) undergoing chemotherapy who continue to have nausea despite prescribed antiemetics, speak Danish, are scheduled for biweekly treatment with at least two cycles planned, and do not have brain metastases or performance status >2.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with brain metastases, a performance status above 2, those unable to attend in-person visits at Vejle Hospital, or non–Danish speakers are unlikely to qualify or 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
This randomized study will enroll 90 adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and assign them 1:1 to receive either holistic acupuncture/acupressure plus standard antiemetic medication or standard antiemetic medication alone. Nausea and other cancer-related symptoms will be measured at baseline and at 8 and 22 days after enrollment to capture short-term effects across treatment cycles. Eligible participants are Danish-speaking adults scheduled for chemotherapy every 14 days with at least two cycles planned, while patients with brain metastases or performance status >2 are excluded. The intervention is delivered at the Department of Oncology, Vejle Hospital and compares adding acupuncture to usual care in a real-world oncology setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding acupuncture could reduce nausea severity and improve daily comfort and functioning during chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials of acupuncture and acupressure for chemotherapy-related nausea have reported modest benefits in some studies but results are mixed and not uniformly conclusive.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria * ≥ 18 years of age * Undergoing chemotherapy and experiencing nausea despite adherence to the prescribed antiemetic regimen * Understands and speaks Danish * Written and orally informed consent * Planned for treatment every 14 days * At least two chemotherapy cycles planned at the time of inclusion Exclusion Criteria: * Brain metastases * Performance status \>2
Where it's running
-
Department of Oncology, Vejle Hospital
Vejle, Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Mette Stie, Phd — Department of Oncology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle
- Study coordinator: Mette Stie, PhD
- Email: mette.stie@rsyd.dk
- Phone: +4579409174
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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.