Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Improving Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Children With Leukemia: A Study of Transcutaneous Acupoints Electrical Stimulation and Auricular Acupressure Interventions

China132 participantsStarted 2025-12-08

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Acupoints Electrical Stimulation (TAES) and Auricular Acupressure (AA) on subject CIPN symptoms, sensory function, motor and physical function, psychological, physical symptoms and quality of life outcomes in Children with Leukemia. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does TAES and AA can improve CIPN symptoms, sensory function, motor and physical function, psychological, physical symptoms and quality of life outcomes in children with Leukemia compared with self-management control group? 2. Does TAES yield improvements in CIPN symptoms, sensory function, motor and physical function, psychological, physical symptoms and quality of life outcomes that are comparable to those achieved through AA in children with leukemia? This proposed research is designed to conduct a three-arm RCT comparing TAES, AA to usual care in children with leukemia. Subjects in TAES group will receive 8 weeks TAES on four acupoints. Subjects in AA group will receive 8 weeks on four acupoints. Subjects in self-management control group will receive usual care they will receive from the hospital. These three groups will be provided with a leaflet containing self-help materials for CIPN.

Who can participate

Age range

8 Years – 17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * age between 8 and 17 years old * diagnosed with leukemia * received neurotoxic chemotherapy * have developed score 9 or above CIPN symptoms according to Pediatric Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy (P-CIN) * able to communicate and read Chinese Exclusion Criteria: * receiving multiple cancer treatment * had a diagnosis of cancer in the central nervous system cancer, cancer relapse or secondary cancer * having other neuromuscular disorders, for example, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy * having other systematic diseases that cause toxicity in the peripheral nervous system, such as sickle cell disease (SCD), Guillain-Barre ́ Syndrome (GBS), anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES), obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI), type I diabetes mellitus, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), peroneal nerve injury, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) * acupoints areas with injuries, wounds or allodynia * participated in any other CIPN non-pharmacological intervention programme * having any impaired bone marrow suppression, liver or renal function * contraindications to TEAS or auricular acupressure: such as having a pacemaker, skin infection, damage, or allergy to the electrodes * suffering from mental illness or using antipsychotic drugs * parents and children refused to give consent.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

CIPN severity - Pediatric Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy (P-CIN)

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after intervention (T1), 1 month after intervention (T2), and 3 month after intervention (T3)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07279818

SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-09-30

Contact for this trial

Ka Yan Ho, PhD

+85254844554 kyeva.ho@polyu.edu.hk

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) trials