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Meta-analysis of acupuncture therapy for knee osteoarthritis in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy
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X. Liang   , M. Liu |
| Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China , lx360149343@163.com |
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Abstract: (21 Views) |
Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease prevalent among the elderly, and its symptoms may be exacerbated in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy due to radiation-induced musculoskeletal complications such as fibrosis and vascular damage. Acupuncture, a modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has shown promise in improving joint function and reducing pain, but its clinical effectiveness in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture for KOA in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: A systematic and comprehensive search was conducted across CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2012 to June 2022. Eligible studies involved cancer patients (e.g., breast, lung, or pelvic malignancies) who developed KOA and were concurrently treated with external-beam radiotherapy using systems such as Varian TrueBeam, Elekta Versa HD, or Shanghai United Imaging uRT-linac. Acupuncture interventions included manual, electro-, or warm acupuncture, administered alone or as adjunctive therapy. The modified Jadad scale was used for quality assessment, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3, expressing outcomes as odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of eight RCTs involving 582 patients (293 acupuncture, 289 control) met the inclusion criteria. Acupuncture significantly improved the total effective rate (OR = 4.10, 95% CI [2.51, 6.71], P < 0.00001) and reduced WOMAC scores (MD = –12.45, 95% CI [–16.78, –8.12], P < 0.00001) compared with radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy combined with Western medicine. Heterogeneity across studies was low (I² = 0%), and subgroup analysis showed consistent results across radiotherapy systems and acupuncture techniques. Conclusion: Acupuncture provides a clinically meaningful adjunctive benefit for managing KOA symptoms in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, improving pain relief, stiffness, and functional outcomes. However, limitations in study quality and potential publication bias highlight the need for larger, high-quality RCTs integrating radiotherapy parameters and standardized acupuncture protocols. |
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| Keywords: Osteoarthritis, knee, acupuncture therapy, radiotherapy, neoplasms, integrative oncology, meta-analysis. |
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Full-Text [PDF 822 kb]
(6 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review article |
Subject:
Radiation Biology
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