Table 2.
Characteristics of included trials.
| Study and setting | Types of cancer | Participants | Chemotherapy agents | Intervention | Control | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
S
a
1: You et al. 2013 [24] RCT, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China |
Nonsmall cell lung cancer |
Randomized = 120, completed = 120, intervention group: 60, control group: 60 |
Etoposide + cisplatin | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (not specified) | Antiemetic medications (not specified) |
(i) CINV (ii) Abdominal bloating (iii) Abdominal pain (iv) Blood glucose and insulin (v) Anxiety (vi) Depression (vii) Pain intensity |
|
| ||||||
|
S2: Yang and Liang 2013 [25] RCT, The Second Affiliated Hospital of SUCM, Xianyang, China |
Leukemia |
Randomized = 58, completed = 58, M/F = 23/35, age (yr) = 20–67 intervention group: 38, control group: 20 |
Cytarabine, homoharringtonine, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone |
Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medication (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, qd) | Antiemetic medication (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, qd) | CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S3: Li 2013 [26] RCT, The first Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China |
Lung cancer Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Cervical cancer Esophagus cancer Nasopharynx cancer |
Randomized = 32, completed = 32, intervention group: 16, M/F = 5/11, age (yr) = 37–65, control group: 16, M/F = 4/12, age (yr) = 36–67 |
Combined chemotherapy based on cisplatin or Pharmorubicin | Auricular Acupressure + antiemetic medications (azasetron, 10 mg, IV, qd + dexamethasone, 10 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (azasetron, 10 mg, IV, qd + dexamethasone, 10 mg, IV, qd) |
CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S4: Fang 2013 [27] RCT, Jiangyan TCM Hospital, Taizhou, China |
Lung cancer Liver cancer Breast cancer Colon cancer Esophagus cancer Nasopharynx cancer |
Randomized = 100, completed = 100, M/F = 42/58, age (yr) = 35–75 intervention group: 50, control group: 50 |
Not reported | Auricular acupressure + usual care | Usual care | CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S5: Zhang et al. 2013 [28] RCT, Hangzhou TCM Hospital, Hangzhou, China |
Breast cancer |
Randomized = 80, completed = 80, intervention group: 40, age (yr) = 29–65 (mean: 47) control group: 40, age (yr) = 32–67 (Mean: 48) |
Not reported | Auricular acupuncture + antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 5 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 5 mg, IV, qd) |
CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S6: Yeh et al. 2012 [29] RCT (Crossover Design), A Large Children's Hospital, Taiwan |
Pediatric cancers |
Randomized = 10, completed = 10, M/F = 6/4, age (yr) = 13.29 ± 3.31 (range from 6 to 18) Intervention group: NR control group: NR (crossover after 1st treatment) |
Cyclophosphamide | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (ondansetron or granisetron + dexamethasone) |
Auricular acupressure using sham acupoints + antiemetic medications (ondansetron or granisetron + dexamethasone) |
(i) CINV (ii) Adverse events (iii) Booklet used to record intensity and duration of acupressure technique |
|
| ||||||
|
S7: Zhang et al. 2012 [30] RCT, The First Affiliated Hospital of GUCM, Guangzhou, China |
Acute leukemia |
Randomized = 100, completed = 100, intervention group: 50, M/F = 24/26, age (yr) = 45 ± 14.8 (range from 17 to 64), control group: 50, M/F = 23/27, age (yr) = 44 ± 15.2 (range from 14 to 62) |
DA combination (daunorubicin + cytarabine) or VP combination (vincristine + prednisone) | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
(i) CINV (ii) Food intake |
|
| ||||||
|
S8: Jiang 2012 [31] RCT, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China |
Not specified |
Randomized = 85, completed = 85, intervention group: 43, M/F = 27/16, age (yr) = 36 to 75, control group: 42, M/F = 25/17, age (yr) = 33 to 72 |
Combined chemotherapy based on cisplatin or Adriamycin | Auricular Acupressure + Antiemetic Medication (Granisetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) | Antiemetic medication (granisetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) | (i) CINV (ii) Adverse events |
|
| ||||||
|
S9: Zhong et al. 2012 [32] RCT (Crossover Design), The First Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, China |
Lung cancer Breast cancer Gastric cancer Colon cancer Ovarian cancer Cervical cancer Tongue cancer Endometrial cancer Nasopharynx cancer |
Randomized = 100, completed = 94, M/F = 58/42, age (yr) = 17–70 (mean: 52.3) intervention group: NR control group: NR (crossover after 1st treatment) |
GP combination (gemcitabine + cisplatin) or TP combination (docetaxel + cisplatin) or AC combination (Adriamycin + cyclophosphamide) or DF combination (cisplatin + fluorouracil), and so forth. | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (tropisetron, qd + diphenhydramine, qd + dexamethasone, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (tropisetron, qd + diphenhydramine, qd + dexamethasone, qd) |
(i) CINV (ii) Constipation |
|
| ||||||
|
S10: Lu 2012 [33] RCT, Ningbo TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, China |
Breast cancer |
Randomized = 128, completed = 128, intervention group: 64, age (yr) = 45.10 ± 10.42, control group: 64, age (yr) = 52.96 ± 6.11 |
CAF combination (cyclophosphamide + Adriamycin + fluorouracil) or CMF combination (cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + fluorouracil) | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medication (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, qd) | Antiemetic medication (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, qd) | CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S11: Huang et al. 2012 [34] RCT, The First Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, China |
Breast cancer |
Randomized = 80, completed = 80, age (yr) = 28–65 (mean: 46.5) intervention group: 40, control group: 40 |
Anthracycline-based combination | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 4 mg, IV, bid) |
Antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 4 mg, IV, bid) |
(i) CINV (ii) Constipation |
|
| ||||||
|
S12: Wang 2012 [35] RCT, Xuzhou TCM Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Xuzhou, China |
Breast cancer |
Randomized = 52, completed = 52, age (yr) = 47.4 (mean) intervention group: 26, control group: 26 |
Cyclophosphamide or fluorouracil or Adriamycin or taxol or doxorubicin or Navelbine | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (azasetron, 10 mg, IV + omeprazole, 40 mg, IV) |
Antiemetic medications (azasetron, 10 mg, IV + omeprazole, 40 mg, IV) |
(i) CINV (ii) Constipation (iii) Abdominal bloating (iv) Abdominal pain (v) Headache |
|
| ||||||
|
S13: Huang 2011 [36] RCT, The First Hospital of Shangqiu City, Shangqiu, China |
Lung cancer Gastric cancer Colon cancer Breast cancer |
Randomized = 120, completed = 120, M/F = 70/50, age (yr) = 30–76 intervention group: 60, control group: 60 |
Not reported | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (azasetron) |
Antiemetic medications (azasetron) |
(i) CINV (ii) Physical performance status |
|
| ||||||
|
S14: Liu and Chen 2011 [37] RCT, The First Affiliated Hospital of GUCM, Guangzhou, China |
Lung cancer |
Randomized = 127, completed = 127, intervention group: 85, M/F = 53/32, age (yr) = 56 ± 11.4 (range from 31 to 75), control group: 42, M/F = 23/19, age (yr) = 51 ± 10.9 (range from 35 to 75) |
Platinum-based chemotherapy | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, bid or ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, bid) |
Antiemetic medications (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, bid or ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, bid) |
(i) CINV (ii) Physical performance status |
|
| ||||||
|
S15: Ye et al. 2011 [38] RCT, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China |
Not specified |
Randomized = 47, completed = 47, intervention group: 27, M/F = 15/12, age (yr) = 58 ± 12 (range from 33 to 76), control group: 20, M/F = 11/9, age (yr) = 57 ± 11 (range from 40 to 78) |
Not reported | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 4 mg, IV, bid) |
Auricular acupressure using sham acupoints + antiemetic medications (tropisetron, 4 mg, IV, bid) |
(i) CINV (ii) Constipation |
|
| ||||||
|
S16: Bi 2011 [39] RCT, LongHua Hospital Affiliated to SUTCM, Shanghai, China |
Gastrointestinal cancer |
Randomized = 50, completed = 50, M/F = 23/27, age (yr) = 45.27 intervention group: 25, control group: 25 |
Cisplatin + fluorouracil | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (ondansetron, basic dose: 8 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (ondansetron, basic dose: 8 mg, IV, qd) |
Use of antiemetic medications |
|
| ||||||
|
S17: Luo 2011 [40] RCT, The First Affiliated Hospital of GUCM, Guangzhou, China |
Lung cancer Colon cancer Breast cancer Gastric cancer Ovarian cancer Nasopharynx cancer |
Randomized = 50, completed = 50, age (yr) = 20 to 80 (mean: 52.24 ± 10.75) Intervention group: 26, M/F = 12/14, Control group: 24, M/F = 9/15 |
Platinum-based chemotherapy | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, bid) |
Antiemetic medications (granisetron, 3 mg, IV, bid) |
(i) CINV (ii) Adverse events (iii) Clinical symptoms (iv) Physical performance status |
|
| ||||||
|
S18: Jing 2007 [41] RCT, Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM, Nanjing, China |
Not specified |
Randomized = 54, completed = 54, intervention group: 30, M/F = 20/10, age (yr) = 47.65 control group: 24, M/F = 16/8, age (yr) = 47.59 |
Platinum-based chemotherapy | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S19: Qian et al. 2006 [42] RCT, LongHua Hospital Affiliated to SUTCM, Shanghai, China |
Lung cancer Breast cancer Gastrointestinal cancer |
Randomized = 67, completed = 67, M/F = 35/32, age (yr) = 39–77 intervention group: 36, control group: 31 |
Combined chemotherapy based on cisplatin or fluorouracil | Auricular acupressure + antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
Antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) |
CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S20: Zhang et al. 2003 [43] RCT, LongHua Hospital Affiliated to SUTCM, Shanghai, China |
Respiratory cancer Gastrointestinal cancer |
Randomized = 173, completed = 173, intervention group: 70, M/F = 28/42, age (yr) = 25–78, control group 1: 50, M/F = 19/31, age (yr) = 24–77, control group 2: 53, M/F = 23/30, age (yr) = 26–76 |
MVP combination (mitomycin + vindesine + cisplatin) or NP combination (Navelbine + cisplatin) or FAM combination (fluorouracil + Adriamycin + mitomycin), and so forth. | Auricular acupressure | Control group 1: antiemetic medications (ondansetron, 8 mg, IV, qd) Control group 2: antiemetic medications (metoclopramide, 20 mg, IM, qd) |
CINV |
|
| ||||||
|
S21: Sun 2003 [44] RCT, The Affiliated Hospital of SDUTCM, Jinan, China |
Breast cancer |
Randomized = 80, completed = 80, intervention group: 40, age (yr) = 41.5, control group: 40, age (yr) = 42.3 |
Not reported | Auricular acupressure | Antiemetic medications (metoclopramide, 30 mg, IV) |
CINV |
RCT: randomized controlled trial, CINV: chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, SUCM: Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, IV: intravenous, GUCM: Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, SUTCM: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and SDUTCM: Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
aStudy.