Chronic cancer pain affects between 55% and 95% of patients with advanced cancer and remains undertreated in a large proportion of cases, even with opioid use. The WHO analgesic ladder — acetaminophen, NSAIDs, weak and strong opioids — relieves pain in approximately 70% to 90% of patients, but the side effects of opioids (nausea, constipation, sedation, risk of dependence) compromise adherence and quality of life. A meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine systematically evaluated whether acupuncture, used as an adjunct to conventional analgesic treatment, is able to broaden pain control and reduce the opioid burden in cancer patients.
ADJUVANT ACUPUNCTURE FOR CHRONIC CANCER PAIN
How the study was conducted
The team of Yuxian Li and Bo Li carried out a systematic search of eight Chinese and international databases, identifying RCTs that compared acupuncture combined with active treatment — conventional analgesics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy — versus active treatment alone, no treatment, or sham acupuncture. The 21 trials included covered different types of cancer and analgesic regimens, with outcomes measured by validated scales (NRS, VAS), counts of breakthrough pain episodes, daily opioid dose, and quality-of-life instruments.
Quality of life and safety
In addition to pain control, adjuvant acupuncture produced significant improvement in patients’ quality of life (MD = 6.37; 95% CI: 3.21 to 9.54; p < 0.0001), a central outcome in the cancer context, where fatigue, anxiety, and daily functioning are as relevant as pain intensity. The safety profile was favorable: no serious adverse events were attributed to acupuncture in studies that reported safety data. The mild adverse effects observed — occasional bruising, transient discomfort at the insertion site — did not differ from those reported in non-oncologic studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with specific protocol precautions. Patients with severe neutropenia (neutrophils < 500/mm³) require careful evaluation before each session. The risk of infection from needling is minimal with strict aseptic technique, and reference cancer centers integrate medical acupuncture into symptom management during chemotherapy. The decision should be made by the oncologist together with the medical acupuncturist.
The meta-analysis included different types of cancer without stratification by tumor location. There is more robust specific evidence for breast, colon, and lung cancer. For cancer-related bone pain from metastases, acupuncture may be a useful adjunct, but palliative radiotherapy remains the treatment of choice. The medical acupuncturist should know the disease stage, the ongoing oncologic regimen, and the patient’s specific contraindications before initiating treatment.
Fonte Original
European Journal of Integrative Medicine(em inglês)Estudo Científico
DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102493Founded in 1989 by physicians trained at the University of São Paulo (USP) and specialized in China, CEIMEC is a Brazilian national reference in the teaching and practice of medical acupuncture. With more than 3,000 physicians trained over 35 years, it collaborates with HC-FMUSP and is recognized by the Brazilian Medical College of Acupuncture (CMBA/AMB).
Learn More about this Topic
Related educational articles