RECRUITING

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

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

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.

Official Title

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

Quick Facts

Study Start:2024-07-22
Study Completion:2026-04-30
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05911243

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * 18-65 years of age
  2. * Stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, or pancreatic cancer
  3. * Appetite score on visual analog scale =\< 70/100
  4. * Functional Assessment for Anorexia/Cachexia Treatment Subscale (FACT-ACS) score \< 37
  5. * At least 60 days of planned systemic treatment, whether already initiated or scheduled to be initiated
  6. * Access to phone and electronic device for study contacts and questionnaires
  7. * Willing and able to attend 4 in-person auricular acupressure treatments at the Fred Hutch South Lake Union Clinic
  8. * Willing and able to perform 4 at-home self-applied treatments of auricular acupressure
  9. * Participants must not have received acupressure or acupuncture for low appetite within last 30 days
  10. * Participants must not be actively using corticosteroids or immunomodulators for appetite stimulation at baseline
  11. * Participants must be able to intake food orally and not require sole or supplemental intravenous nutrition at baseline
  12. * Participants must not have a history of physiological eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa) in the last 3 years
  13. * Participants must not have a current known or diagnosed immunodeficiency
  14. * Participants must have an intact auricular pinna
  15. * Able to understand and willing to sign written informed consent in English
  1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  2. Severe psychiatric disorders
  3. Active substance abuse
  4. Unstable medical conditions
  5. Inability to comply with study requirements

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Blake Langley
CONTACT
206-667-3481
blangley@fredhutch.org

Principal Investigator

Blake Langley
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Study Locations (Sites)

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
Seattle, Washington, 98109
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Washington

  • Blake Langley, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2024-07-22
Study Completion Date2026-04-30

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2024-07-22
Study Completion Date2026-04-30

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • 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