Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

The ACURE Trial: Acupuncture for Colorectal Recovery

240 participantsStarted 2026-04-01

Plain-language summary

Purpose: The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can accelerate the recovery of bowel function in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer. Main Questions to be Answered: Does electroacupuncture reduce the time to the first bowel movement after surgery compared to standard care or a "sham" (placebo) treatment? Can electroacupuncture improve overall gastrointestinal tolerance and reduce postoperative discomfort? Study Design: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Electroacupuncture Group: Receives active electrical stimulation at specific acupuncture points. Sham Acupuncture Group: Receives superficial needling at non-treatment points with no electrical current to serve as a placebo. Standard Care Group: Receives standard hospital recovery protocols (ERAS) without acupuncture. All treatments will consist of four 30-minute sessions: one before surgery and three on the days following the procedure. Researchers will compare the three groups to see if the electroacupuncture group experiences a faster return of digestive function.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 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: * Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer requiring scheduled curative-intent resection. * Age between 18 and 79 years, inclusive. * Ability to understand the study protocol and provide written informed consent. * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of I, II, or III. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breastfeeding women. * History of major abdominal surgery within the past 4 weeks. * Receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the past 6 months. * History of organ transplantation with rejection episodes within the past 30 days. * Presence of active infection (e.g., tuberculosis, sepsis, peritonitis). * Positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV with an uncontrolled viral load. * Severe malnutrition, defined as a Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002) score ≥ 3. * History of total colectomy or requirement for ileorectal anastomosis. * Requirement for multivisceral resection due to tumor invasion. * Scheduled for prophylactic stoma creation. * Moderate to severe cognitive impairment, epilepsy, or uncontrolled neurological disorders. * Active psychiatric illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) that may interfere with study compliance. * Severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency (e.g., New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] class IV heart failure or requirement for long-term oxygen therapy). * Presence of open wounds, skin infections, or known allergies at or near the designated acupuncture sites. History of a…

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

Time to First Postoperative Defecation

Timeframe: From the end of surgery up to postoperative day 30.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07496528

SponsorChang Gung Memorial Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-03-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Colorectal Neoplasms trials