TABLE I.

Summary of methods and results of included studies

Reference	Sample size	Sex	Cancer type and stage	Chemotherapy	Acupuncture		Frequency and duration
					Intervention	Control	Intervention	Control
Rostock et al., 201329	59	Men and women	Not specified	Taxanes, platinum derivatives, or vinca alkaloids	Electroacupuncture	Three groups: ■ Hydroelectric baths ■ Vitamin B complex capsules ■ Placebo (lactose) capsules	2–3 Times weekly for 3 weeks (total of 8 sessions)
	Outcomes assessed: ■ Primary: patient-reported CIPN severity (score on the numerical rating scale for neuropathic symptoms) ■ Secondary: neuropathy score, electroneurography, Common Toxicity Criteriaa, QLQ-C30b
	Results: Acupuncture no more effective than control treatments: no significant difference in outcome improvement (primary or secondary) between acupuncture group and control groups.
Han et al., 201730	104	Men and women	Multiple myeloma, all stages	All chemotherapy treatments	Acupuncture and methylcobalamin	Methylcobalamin	Approximately 3 times weekly for 12 weeks	Every other day or daily for 12 weeks
	Outcomes assessed: Degree of CIPN using VAS pain scores, score on the FACT/GOG-Ntxc , and nerve conduction velocities
	Results: Compared with methylcobalamin, acupuncture was effective for CIPN: significant decrease in VAS pain scores (p<0.01), and FACT/GOG-Ntx scores (p<0.05); no significant difference in nerve conduction velocities between acupuncture and controls (p>0.05)
Lu et al., 201731	40	Women	Breast cancer, stages I–III	Not specified	Acupuncture	Low-dose acupuncture, delayed 8 weeks after intervention	2–3 Times weekly for 8 weeks (total of 18 sessions)	1–2 Times weekly for 8 weeks (total of 9 sessions)
	Outcomes assessed: Degree of CIPN using the PNQ, FACT-Ntxc, QLQ-CIPN20b
	Results: Acupuncture better than low-dose acupuncture for CIPN: significant improvement compared with control on the PNQ (p=0.02), the FACT-Ntx (p=0.002), and the QLQ-CIPN20 (p=0.006)

^aU.S. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.

^bEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Brussels, Belgium.

^cFACIT.org, Elmhurst, IL, U.S.A.

CIPN = chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy; QLQ-C30 = 30-question core Quality of Life Questionnaire; VAS = visual analogue scale; FACT/GOG-Ntx = Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group 12-item neurotoxicity scale; PNQ = Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire; FACT-Ntx = Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Neurotoxicity; QLQ-CIPN20 = Quality of Life Questionnaire, 20-item chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy scale.