Loading
Hot flushes on tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors are common and hormone replacement is off the table. Acupuncture reduced flushes in several randomised trials, in one about as well as the drug gabapentin and with fewer side effects, though sham-controlled results are mixed.
Hot flushes affect most women on adjuvant endocrine therapy and are a leading reason women stop treatment; oestrogen is contraindicated. In a randomised trial of 120 breast cancer survivors (Mao et al., JCO 2015), electroacupuncture reduced hot flush scores more than gabapentin 900 mg per day at eight weeks, with sham acupuncture also outperforming placebo pills and effects persisting at 24 weeks, which illustrates both a real effect and a large non-specific component. Other sham-controlled trials have been mixed. The SIO 2017 breast guideline grades acupuncture for hot flushes as a reasonable option to consider. Non-hormonal drugs (venlafaxine, gabapentin, oxybutynin, fezolinetant) remain the comparators with the most evidence, and cognitive behavioural therapy for menopausal symptoms is an alternative with randomised support.
Acupuncture may reset hypothalamic thermoregulatory set points via beta-endorphin and serotonergic pathways; the sham response suggests attention and expectation contribute substantially.
Four technology pages on OnCo cite this paper by its DOI; this record gives the citation a page of its own so a reader can follow it without leaving OnCo. Read the abstract above alongside the citing pages listed under Related; the record was created automatically from the Europe PMC entry and its figures have not been checked by hand.
One technology page on OnCo cites this paper by its DOI; this record gives the citation a page of its own so a reader can follow it without leaving OnCo. Read the abstract above alongside the citing page listed under Related; the record was created automatically from the Europe PMC entry and its figures have not been checked by hand.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy" OR ABSTRACT:"Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Acupuncture for hot flushes on endocrine therapy, not a curated reading list.
Shares Aromatase inhibitor, Placebo, Exemestane, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment, Placebo, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Menopause symptoms after chemotherapy for breast cancer, Placebo, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment, Placebo, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Aromatase inhibitor, Exemestane, Letrozole (and other aromatase inhibitors), Tamoxifen and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued, HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Evidence-based integrative oncology, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued, Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer and the tags complementary, supportive-care.