Auricular Point Stimulation Plus Dexamethasone for Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Breast Cancer Palliative Therapy

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is an important therapeutic agent in the palliative treatment of advanced breast cancer. It is used as first-line therapy for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in patients who have previously received anti-HER2 treatment, as well as second-line or later therapy for advanced or recurrent breast cancer. Additionally, it is the first targeted therapy approved in China for HER2-low advanced breast cancer. While it improves patient survival rates, it is also associated with certain gastrointestinal adverse reactions, with treatment-related nausea and vomiting being particularly common, occurring in nearly 80% of cases. The majority of these symptoms occur on the day of administration and within the following four days. This regimen is currently classified as a high emetic risk treatment in clinical guidelines. The recommended prophylactic antiemetic strategy typically involves a quadruple regimen combining corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone), 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (e.g., ondansetron, palonosetron), NK1 receptor antagonists (e.g., fosaprepitant, aprepitant), and the antipsychotic drug olanzapine. However, in clinical practice, many patients experience drug-related gastrointestinal adverse reactions such as anorexia, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea due to the use of high-intensity antiemetic therapy. Studies have shown that the incidence of constipation in chemotherapy patients treated with palonosetron nearly doubles. The aggressive use of antiemetics severely impacts patients' gastrointestinal function, quality of life, and even their treatment adherence. Therefore, how to effectively prevent trastuzumab deruxtecan -induced nausea and vomiting while minimizing the side effects of antiemetic therapy itself has become a practical issue that healthcare professionals urgently need to address.

Auricular point pressotherapy is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external therapy. It involves accurately pasting Vaccaria seeds on corresponding auricular points with adhesive tapes and stimulating the points through moderate pressing to regulate physical functions and treat diseases. According to TCM theory, the ear is closely connected to the internal organs and meridians of the human body, and all twelve meridians are directly or indirectly linked to the ear. Auricular point pressotherapy can unblock meridians and balance yin and yang by stimulating corresponding auricular points, thereby alleviating anti-cancer therapy-related nausea and vomiting and other adverse reactions. It is an economical, non-invasive, and low-side-effect natural therapy. Meanwhile, auricular point pressotherapy can effectively improve gastrointestinal function, thus significantly reducing gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by chemotherapy and antiemetic drugs, such as anorexia, abdominal distension, constipation, and diarrhea.

Our team summarized the relevant data of patients who voluntarily received auricular point pressotherapy for antiemesis previously. The results showed that among breast cancer patients who received trastuzumab deruxtecan. 100% of those treated with auricular point pressotherapy plus dexamethasone did not experience grade 2 or above (including grade 2) nausea and had no vomiting on the day of medication and within 3 days thereafter.

Based on the theoretical and practical foundation described above, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular point pressing with beans combined with dexamethasone in preventing and suppressing nausea and vomiting induced by trastuzumab deruxtecan in the palliative treatment of breast cancer. It will also assess patient appetite, gastrointestinal function, and other related indicators, exploring the important role of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine interventions in improving the quality of life of patients during antitumor therapy. The findings are expected to provide clinical references for optimizing the management of adverse reactions associated with trastuzumab deruxtecan.