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TEAS for the Treatment of Pain in Bone Metastases of Lung Cancer

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
Bone Metastases
Acupuncture
Cancer Pain
Interventions
Device: Sham transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
Device: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
Drug: Routine palliative treatment
Registration Number
NCT05730972
Lead Sponsor
The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
Brief Summary

This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled research study aims to objectively evaluate the role of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), which combines the theory of acupuncture with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, for the treatment of pain in patients with bone metastases from lung cancer.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
188
Inclusion Criteria
  • Fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of non-small cell lung cancer and had a diagnosis of definite bone-metastatic-related pain.
  • Potent opioid analgesics have been prescribed regularly.
  • Bone protective agents (bisphosphonates or desumumab) have been used regularly.
  • Expected survival ≥ 3 months with no obvious contraindication to opioid therapy.
  • Stable vital signs and ECOG-PS score ≤ 2 points; able to cooperate with researchers to complete relevant study evaluations.
  • Signed informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Definitively diagnosed with pain unrelated to lung cancer.
  • Received local radiation therapy or surgery targeting bone metastases within 1 week before enrollment or will receive during the intervention period. The surgery including vertebroplasty, radioparticle implantation, neurological lesions, and other minimally invasive interventions.
  • Venous thrombosis in the upper and lower extremities (below the elbow / knee joint), active cerebrovascular disease, severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, or those with respiratory depression.
  • Pacemaker implantation or metallic implants in vivo.
  • Skin lesions at the acupoints, poor skin condition, or other situations that are not suitable for treatment with TEAS.
  • Opioid hypersensitivity.
  • Psychiatric disorders or severe cognitive deficits.
  • Participating in other clinical trialists influencing the evaluation of the results of this study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
sham TEASSham transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulationEach step of the sham TEAS operation is the same as the TEAS group. A total of 4 sessions of treatment were administered. 10 free TEAS treatments will be given after the trial.
true TEASRoutine palliative treatmentA pair of conductive gel patch, connecting to the Huatuo SDZ-ⅡB portable electronic needle therapy instrument, are respectively affixed to the ipsilateral Jiaji acupoint group (EX-B2) or the ipsilateral limb acupoint group(Hegu (LI4) - Waiguan (TE5), or Zusanli (ST36) - Sanyinjiao (SP6)), so as contralateral side. A single TEAS treatment takes 30 min. TEAS specific parameters were dilatation wave 2Hz and stimulus current intensity in degrees as tolerated by the patient. 7 days was considered as 1 session. Self-controlled treatment refers to not setting an upper limit on the number of treatment times, but must have met at least 3 days or 5 times of TEAS treatment within each session. A total of 4 sessions of treatment were administered.
true TEASTranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulationA pair of conductive gel patch, connecting to the Huatuo SDZ-ⅡB portable electronic needle therapy instrument, are respectively affixed to the ipsilateral Jiaji acupoint group (EX-B2) or the ipsilateral limb acupoint group(Hegu (LI4) - Waiguan (TE5), or Zusanli (ST36) - Sanyinjiao (SP6)), so as contralateral side. A single TEAS treatment takes 30 min. TEAS specific parameters were dilatation wave 2Hz and stimulus current intensity in degrees as tolerated by the patient. 7 days was considered as 1 session. Self-controlled treatment refers to not setting an upper limit on the number of treatment times, but must have met at least 3 days or 5 times of TEAS treatment within each session. A total of 4 sessions of treatment were administered.
sham TEASRoutine palliative treatmentEach step of the sham TEAS operation is the same as the TEAS group. A total of 4 sessions of treatment were administered. 10 free TEAS treatments will be given after the trial.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The response rate of average pain in the brief pain inventory (BPI) at the end of week 4week 4

According to the international consensus on palliative radiotherapy endpoints for bone metastasis clinical trials, the degree of therapeutic response for bone metastatic pain can be classified as complete response (CR: pain score of 0 and no increase in daily oral morphine equivalent dose (OMED) ), partial response (PR: ①pain score decrease of ≥ 2 and no increase in OMED; ②pain score no increase and decrease of ≥ 25% in OMED), pain progression (PP: ①≥ 2 increase in pain score with no decrease in OMED; ②≥ 1 increase in pain score with ≥ 25% increase in OMED) and indeterminate response (IR: cases not classified as CR / PR / PP).

Subjects in which complete or partial relief of pain was achieved were pain responders; Subjects whose pain progressed or was indeterminate response were non responders. The response rate of average pain = ((CR+PR) / No. of subjects) \*100%.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The changes of pain and inference scores in Brief Pain Inventoryweek 4, week 8, week 12
The changes in mood scale scores of Hamilton Rating Scale for Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A)week 4, week 8, week 12

HAM-A is one of the most widely used rating scales to measure the severity of perceived anxiety symptoms. A total of 14 items were included 14 items. The total score ≥29 points, may be severe anxiety. ≥21 points, there must be obvious anxiety. ≥14 points, must have anxiety. ≥7 points, may have anxiety. \< 7 points, no anxiety symptoms.

The changes of frequency of breakthrough pain within 1 weekweek 4, week 8, week 12
The changes of OMED on assessment daysweek 4, week 8, week 12

The daily oral morphine equivalent dose over the past 24 h will be recorded for both groups at each testing time point. Equivalent morphine dose conversions will be established in accordance with the NCCN clinical practice guidelines for adult cancer pain (version 3.2022). For instance, fentanyl transdermal patch (25 mcg/h) will be considered approximately equal to oxycodone (30 mg/d), parenteral morphine (20 mg/d), and oral morphine (60 mg/d).

The changes in mood scale scores of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)week 4, week 8, week 12

HAM-D is a standardized scale for the measurement of the severity of depressive symptoms, initially designed to yield a total score based on 17 items. The scores of anxiety/depression and its change during the previous 2 weeks from baseline will be recorded.The total score \> 24 points, severe depression. 17≤ score ≤24, moderate depression. 7≤ score ≤17, mild depression. \< 7 points, no depressive symptoms.

The changes of tri-lineage cell counts in bloodweek 4, week 8, week 12
Quality of life measured by EORTC QLQ-C30 scoreweek 4, week 8, week 12

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is an integrated system for assessing the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. The EORTC QLQ-C30 incorporates nine multi-item scales: five functional scales (Physical, Role, Cognitive, Emotional and Social Functioning); three symptom scales (Fatigue, Pain and Nausea/Vomiting); and a Global Health Status/QoL scale. Six single item scales are also included (Dyspnoea, Insomnia, Appetite Loss, Constipation, Diarrhoea and Financial Difficulties). Scale scores were calculated by averaging items within scales and transforming average scores linearly. All of the scales range in score from 0 to 100. A high score for a functional scale represents a high/healthy level of functioning whereas a high score for a symptom scale or item represents a high level of symptomatology or problems.

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