Acupressure for Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Patients With Breast Cancer

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ROGEL CANCER CENTER · Jan 25, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the use of self-acupressure to help relieve joint pain and stiffness in postmenopausal women and men who are receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors are medications that can cause musculoskeletal symptoms, which are painful and can affect daily life. Acupressure is a technique similar to acupuncture but uses finger pressure on specific points of the body instead of needles. The study will also look at how acupressure might affect other common symptoms and even the gut bacteria in patients.

To participate in this trial, you need to be at least 18 years old and currently taking an aromatase inhibitor for your breast cancer treatment. You should be experiencing new or worsening joint pain with a pain score of at least 4 out of 10. Participants will complete questionnaires and may use an app to track their progress. The trial is currently recruiting participants, so if you’re interested in finding relief from these symptoms through acupressure, this could be a good opportunity for you.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female or male subject aged ≥ 18 years
• • Taking the currently prescribed aromatase inhibitor therapy (anastrozole, exemestane, or letrozole) for adjuvant or palliative treatment of breast cancer or for chemoprevention for at least 3 weeks and no more than 2 years at the time of enrollment.
• • Planning to take the same AI therapy for at least 12 weeks.
• • New or worsening joint pain and/or myalgias since starting the AI therapy, with worst pain score of at least 4 out of 10 on the BPI over the 7 days prior to enrollment.
• • Completion of radiation therapy, if given, for treatment of breast cancer.
• • Completion of chemotherapy, if given. Concurrent use of LHRHa therapy, anti-HER2 therapy, bisphosphonate therapy, PARP inhibitor therapy, and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy is permitted.
• • Patients receiving treatment with NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, duloxetine, cannabinoids, gabapentin, and/or pregabalin must have been taking a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to enrollment if they plan to continue the drug during study participation. If they do not plan to take the medication during study participation, they should stop the medication at least 7 days before initiation of study treatment.
• • Able to self-complete questionnaires in English.
• • Able to access WiFi/internet and willing to use an email account or download and use the MyDataHelps app.
• • Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Use of acupuncture or acupressure in the past year, or planned use of acupuncture during study participation.
• • Use of systemic or transdermal estrogen during study participation.
• • Planned surgery during the 12-week study period.
• • Concurrent medical or arthritis disease such as painful bone metastases or active rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory arthritis that could confound or interfere with evaluation of pain or efficacy. Patients with osteoarthritis and asymptomatic bone metastases are eligible.
• • Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment, in the opinion of the treating investigator, has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen.