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Enrolling by invitation

NCT Number: NCT07747194

Acupuncture to Prevent Nausea and Vomiting After Stem Cell Transplant

This study is testing whether acupuncture at a point on the wrist called "Neiguan" can help reduce nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. Participants will receive either real acupuncture or standard care. We hope to find a safe way to improve comfort during cancer treatment.

Enrolling by invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Digestive Vomiting

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The General Hospital of Western Theater Command

Chengdu, Sichuan, 610083, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-65 years, either sex. Patients scheduled to receive a conditioning (preparative) regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Life expectancy ≥ 3 months. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to enrollment.

Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Received chemotherapy with highly emetogenic agents within 14 days prior to enrollment.

Received radiotherapy within 7 days prior to enrollment, or planned radiotherapy during the study period.

Known hypersensitivity to any study drug or its excipients. Complicated with gastrointestinal obstruction, brain metastasis with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, or any other condition that may cause and/or exacerbate nausea and vomiting.

Active infection. Unable to take oral medications. Use of any anti-emetic medication (including corticosteroids) within 48 hours or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) prior to enrollment.

Any episode of nausea, vomiting, or retching within 24 hours prior to the first administration.

Severe psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that precludes understanding, reading, and completing patient diaries.

Any other condition that the investigator deems would make the patient unsuitable for participation in this study.

Treatment and study plan

Acupuncture

Procedure

Add-on manual acupuncture at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) to standard quadruple anti-emetic prophylaxis. Disposable sterile acupuncture needles inserted perpendicularly 0.5-1 cun (approximately 10-25 mm) into Neiguan with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation; needles retained for 30 minutes. Administered once daily throughout the conditioning (preparative) regimen.

This distinguishes the intervention from: (1) the active comparator arm in this study, which receives identical pharmacological prophylaxis without acupuncture; and (2) other acupuncture trials that may use electroacupuncture, different acupoints, variable needle depths, or shorter treatment durations.

Conventional Care

Drug

Standard quadruple pharmacological anti-emetic prophylaxis comprising a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, an NK-1 receptor antagonist, dexamethasone, and olanzapine, administered per institutional HSCT supportive care protocol. No acupuncture or sham procedure is provided.

This distinguishes the arm from the experimental arm, which receives the identical pharmacological regimen plus add-on manual acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6).

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting during the conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

    Time frame: Throughout the conditioning period (approximately 3-7 days)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Nutritional status assessed by serum albumin and prealbumin levels

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-conditioning), Day 7, Day14, and Day 28 of conditioning, and Day 30 post-transplant

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Xiao Wang

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Clinical Study and Mechanism Exploration of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) for Preventing Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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