NCT05911243

Feasibility of Auricular Acupressure for Appetite and Weight in Patients With Stage II-IV Gastric, Esophageal, and Pancreatic Cancer

A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of an Acupressure Intervention on Appetite and Weight in Patients With Gastric, Esophageal, and Pancreatic Cancer: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 66 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Washington · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This clinical trial evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of acupressure to the ear (auricular) to address appetite and weight in patients with stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, or pancreatic cancer. Cancer anorexia, the abnormal loss of appetite, directly leads to cancer-associated weight loss (cachexia) through malnourishment, reduced caloric intake, treatment side-effects, and other modifiable risk factors. Cachexia prolongs length of hospital stay for patients, negatively impacts treatment tolerance and adherence, and reduces overall patient quality of life. Auricular acupressure is a form of micro-acupuncture that exerts its effect by stimulating the central nervous system using adhesive taped pellets applied to specific locations on the external ear. The use of these pellets to deliver auricular acupressure has been shown to improve pain, fatigue, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, depression, and quality of life in both cancer and non-cancer settings. Auricular acupressure is a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive approach to addressing cancer-related symptoms and treatment side-effects and may be effective at improving appetite and weight loss in stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer patients.

Detailed description

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients undergo auricular acupressure in addition to their usual care on study. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples on study. ARM II: Patients receive usual care on study. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples on study. After completion of study treatment, patients in Arm II are followed up at 8 weeks after active treatment ends.

Conditions

• Clinical Stage II Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage II Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage II Gastric Cancer AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage IV Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage IV Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8
• Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8
• Stage II Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8
• Stage III Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8
• Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Acupressure Therapy	Undergo auricular acupressure
OTHER	Best Practice	Receive usual care
PROCEDURE	Biospecimen Collection	Undergo collection of blood samples
OTHER	Questionnaire Administration	Ancillary studies

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-22
• Primary completion: 2026-09-01
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2023-06-20
• Last updated: 2025-12-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States