Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mechanisms of Action for Acupuncture in the Oncology Setting

  • Integrative Oncology
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

A growing body of literature supports the use of acupuncture in the oncology clinic for the relief of symptoms caused by cancer treatments. Several clinical trials are currently supported by the National Institutes of Health to assess the efficacy of such treatments, as evidenced by the listings in the National Institutes of Health Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) database. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action behind the effects of acupuncture. A biomedical database search for articles in the English-language literature revealed studies examining the effect of acupuncture on fibroblast cells, a decrease of inflammatory cytokines, an increase of T-lymphocytes, and increasing adenosine, neuropeptides, opioid peptides, peptide hormones, and stem cells. This limited review attempts to reveal some possible mechanisms of action for the effects of acupuncture for symptom relief in the oncology setting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of major importance

  1. World Health Organization, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials. http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/5.html

  2. Acupuncture. NIH Consens Statement 1997, 15(5):1–34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9809733

  3. Johnstone PA, Polston GR, Niemtzow RC: Integration of acupuncture into the oncology clinic. Palliat Med 2002, 16(3):235–239.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wong R, Sagar S: Acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy—a case series. Acupunct Med 2006, 24(2):87–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Shen J, Wenger N, Glaspy J: Electroacupuncture for control of myeloablative chemotherapy-induced emesis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2000, 284(21):2755–2761.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Johnstone PA, Niemtzow RC, Riffenburgh RH: Acupuncture for xerostomia: clinical update. Cancer 2002, 94(4):1151–1156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Molassiotis A, Sylt P, Diggins H: The management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: a randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2007, 15(4):228–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lu W, Matulonis UA, Doherty-Gilman A, et al.: Acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with gynecologic malignancies: a pilot randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. J Altern Complement Med 2009, 15(7):745–753.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhou Y, Garcia M, Chang D, et al.: Multiple myeloma, painful neuropathy, acupuncture? Am J Oncol 2009, 32(3):319–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Schroder S, Liepert J, Remppis A, et al.: Acupuncture treatment improves nerve conduction in peripheral neuropathy. Eur J Neurol 2007, 14(3):276–281.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cabyoglu M, Ergene N, Tan U: The mechanism of acupuncture and clinical applications. Int J Neurosci 2006, 116(2):115–125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pfister DG, Cassileth BR, Deng GE, et al.: Acupuncture for pain and dysfunction after head and neck dissection: results of a randomised controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 2010, 28(15):2565–2570.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Crew KD, Capodice JL, Greenlee H: Randomized, blinded, sham-controlled trial of acupuncture for the management of aromatase inhibitor-associated joint symptoms in women with early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2010, 28(7):1154–1160. Epub 2010 Jan 25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Campbell N, Reese J: In Biology, 7th edn. Edited by Wilber B. San Francisco: Pearson Educational Inc.; 2005:901–902

  15. Langevin HM, Yandow JA: Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec 2002, 269:257–265.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Langevin HM, Bouffard NA, Badger GJ, et al.: Subcutaneous tissue fibroblast cytoskeletal remodeling induced by acupuncture: evidence for a mechanotransduction-based mechanism. J Cell Physiol 2006, 207(3):767–774.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. US National Library of Medicine, Unified Medical Language System. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary=fibroblast

  18. Chae Y, Hong MS, Kim GH, et al.: Protein array analysis of cytokine levels on the action of acupuncture in carrageenan-induced inflammation. Neurol Res 2007, 29(Suppl 1):S55–S58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Goldman N, Chen M, Fujita T, et al.: Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture. Nat Neurosci 2010, 13(7):883–888.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Melzack R, Wall P: Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science 1965, 150(699):971–979.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang SM, Kain ZN, White P: Acupuncture analgesia. I. The scientific basis. Anesth Analg 2008, 106(2):602–610.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Casey KL: Forebrain mechanisms of nociception and pain: analysis through imaging. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1999, 96:7668–7674.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu XY, Zhou HF, Pan YL: Electro-acupuncture stimulation protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-mediated damage in medial forebrain bundle-transected rats. Exp Neurol 2004, 189(1):189–196.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Shen EY, Lai YJ: The efficacy of frequency-specific acupuncture stimulation on extracellular dopamine concentration in striatum—a rat model study. Neurosci Lett 2007, 415(2):179–184.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Yang J, Lin BC: Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus plays a role in acupuncture analgesia through the central nervous system in the rat. Acupunct Electrother Res 1992, 17:209–220.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yang J, Liu WY, Song CY, et al.: Through central arginine vasopressin, not oxytocin and endogenous opiate peptides, glutamate sodium induces hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus enhancing acupuncture analgesia in the rat. Neurosci Res 2006, 54(1):49–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wu GC, Zhu J, Cao X: Involvement of opioid peptides of the preoptic area during electroacupuncture analgesia. Acupunct Electrother Res 1995, 20(1):1–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Okumura M, Toriizuka K, Iijima K, et al.: Effects of acupuncture on peripheral T lymphocyte subpopulation and amounts of cerebral catecholamines in mice. Acupunct Electrother Res 1999, 24(2):127–139.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mori H, Nishijo K, Kawamura H, et al.: Unique immunomodulation by electro-acupuncture in humans possibly via stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Neurosci Lett 2002, 320(1–2):21–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Jong MS, Hwang SJ, Chen FP: Effects of electro-acupuncture on serum cytokine level and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulation at immune-related and non-immune-related points. Acupunct Electrother Res 2006, 31(1–2):45–59.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Arranz L, Guayerbas N, Siboni L, et al.: Effect of acupuncture treatment on the immune function impairment found in anxious women. Am J Chin Med 2007, 35(1):35–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Zeng F, Song WZ, Liu XG, et al.: Brain areas involved in acupuncture treatment on functional dyspepsia patients: a PET-CT study. Neurosci Lett 2009, 456(1):6–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Nishijo K, Mori H, Yosikawa K: Decreased heart rate by acupuncture stimulation in humans via facilitation of cardiac vagal activity and suppression of cardiac sympathetic nerve. Neurosci Lett 1997, 227:165–168.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tada H, Fujita M, Harris M, et al.: Neural mechanism of acupuncture-induced gastric relaxations in rats. Dig Dis Sci 2003, 48(1):59–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sajdyk TJ, Fitz SD, Shekhar A: The role of neuropeptide Y in the amygdala on corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-mediated behavioral stress responses in the rat. Stress 2006, 9(1):21–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Park HJ, Chae Y, Jang J, et al.: The effect of acupuncture on anxiety and neuropeptide Y expression in the basolateral amygdala of maternally separated rats. Neurosci Lett 2005, 377(3):179–184.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Chae Y, Yeom M, Han JH, et al.: Effect of acupuncture on anxiety-like behavior during nicotine withdrawal and relevant mechanisms. Neurosci Lett 2008, 430(2):98–102.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Moldenhauer S, Burgauner M, Hellweg R, et al.: Mobilization of CD133(+)CD34(−) cells in healthy individuals following whole-body acupuncture for spinal cord injuries. J Neurosci Res 2010, 88(8):1645–1650.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 5610 Crawfordsville Road, Suite 103, Indianapolis, IN, 46224, USA

    Jennifer A. M. Stone BA, LAc

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 535 Barnhill Drive, RT 041, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5289, USA

    Peter A. S. Johnstone MD, FACR

Authors
  1. Jennifer A. M. Stone BA, LAc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter A. S. Johnstone MD, FACR
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer A. M. Stone BA, LAc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stone, J.A.M., Johnstone, P.A.S. Mechanisms of Action for Acupuncture in the Oncology Setting. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 11, 118–127 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-010-0128-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-010-0128-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation