A Phase 3 interventional study of Electroacupuncture and Standard antiemetic treatment in Electroacupuncture, Olanzapine-contained Four-drug Antiemetic and Nausea and Vomiting, sponsored by Jiuda Zhao. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-02.
Sponsored by Jiuda Zhao · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled phase III trial aims to evaluate the use of electroacupuncture in combination with olanzapine-containing standard quadruple antiemetic drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting induced by highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, it will analyze the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism and electroacupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
This study is a parallel-group, blinded (participants, evaluators, and statisticians), randomized controlled trial exploring the effectiveness of electroacupuncture combined with standard quadruple antiemetic drugs for breast cancer patients undergoing HEC. Both groups will receive Olanzapine, Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists (NK-1RAs), serotonin receptor antagonists [5HT3RA], and dexamethasone at the start of HEC on Day 1. Electroacupuncture or sham acupuncture will be randomly administered to each group. Participants will document all instances of nausea and vomiting and note the use of rescue antiemetic medications. Blood samples will be collected and analyzed to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms can predict electroacupuncture outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing HEC. Primary and secondary outcomes as well as adverse events will be assessed.
644 studies on the registry are indexed under Nausea; 85 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 370 is above the median of 96 across 544 interventional studies indexed under Nausea.
Browse Nausea studies →Jiuda Zhao is the lead sponsor of 10 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
A line of therapy is one course of treatment, which may combine several drugs. First-line is the first course given; second-line follows when that stops working or is not tolerated.
“Two prior lines” means two courses that count separately under the study’s rules — not simply two drugs. Ask the study team if you are unsure how yours are counted.
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.
“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Line of therapy
A line of therapy is one course of treatment, which may combine several drugs. First-line is the first course given; second-line follows when that stops working or is not tolerated.
“Two prior lines” means two courses that count separately under the study’s rules — not simply two drugs. Ask the study team if you are unsure how yours are counted.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Life expectancy
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
CTCAE grade
The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.
“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Brain metastases
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive electroacupuncture once daily from day 1 to day 4. The acupuncturists will insert needles into the acupoints and manipulate the needles until"de qi"sensation is achieved and reported by the participants. Electrical stimulation will be delivered for 30 minutes at alternating frequencies of 2/10Hz. They will receive olanzapine 2.5 mg per day orally on days 1 through 4 + fosaprepitant 150 mg intravenous (IV) or aprepitant injectable emulsion 130 mg IV + palonosetron 0.25 mg IV or ondansetron 8 mg IV or tropisetron 5 mg IV (the previously mentioned medication, which includes fosaprepitant or aprepitant combined with palonosetron or ondansetron or tropisetron, can also be taken orally in a fixed combination of netupitant (300 mg) and palonosetron (0.50 mg))+ dexamethasone 10 mg IV 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy on Day 1, dexamethasone 8 mg IV on days 2, 3, 4 post chemotherapy. Dexamethasone doses may be individualized based on the doctor's judgment.
Device: Electroacupuncture · Drug: Standard antiemetic treatment
The sham acupuncture comprised a core standardized prescription of minimally invasive, shallow needle insertion using thin and short needles at body locations not recognized as true acupuncture points and are deemed to not belong to traditional Chinese meridians and have no therapeutic value. Participants will receive minimal acupuncture treatment without electrical stimulation at the same time as the intervention group.Care was taken to avoid "de qi" sensation. They will receive olanzapine-contained four-drug antiemetic therapy. All the antiemetic drugs used are the same as those in the true acupuncture group.
Device: Sham electroacupuncture · Drug: Standard antiemetic treatment
The acupuncturists will insert needles into the acupoints and manipulate the needles until"de qi"sensation is achieved and reported by the participants. Electrical stimulation will be delivered for 30 minutes at alternating frequencies of 2/10Hz.
Olanzapine 2.5 mg per day orally on days 1 through 4 + fosaprepitant 150 mg intravenous (IV) or aprepitant injectable emulsion 130 mg IV + palonosetron 0.25 mg IV or ondansetron 8 mg IV or tropisetron 5 mg IV (the previously mentioned medication, which includes fosaprepitant or aprepitant combined with palonosetron or ondansetron or tropisetron, can also be taken orally in a fixed combination of netupitant (300 mg) and palonosetron (0.50 mg))+ dexamethasone 10 mg IV 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy on Day 1, dexamethasone 8 mg IV on days 2, 3, 4 post chemotherapy. Dexamethasone doses may be individualized based on the doctor's judgment.
The sham acupuncture comprised a core standardized prescription of minimally invasive, shallow needle insertion using thin and short needles at body locations not recognized as true acupuncture points and are deemed to not belong to traditional Chinese meridians and have no therapeutic value. Participants will receive minimal acupuncture treatment without electrical stimulation at the same time as the intervention group.Care was taken to avoid "de qi" sensation.
Olanzapine 2.5 mg per day orally on days 1 through 4 + fosaprepitant 150 mg intravenous (IV) or aprepitant injectable emulsion 130 mg IV + palonosetron 0.25 mg IV or ondansetron 8 mg IV or tropisetron 5 mg IV (the previously mentioned medication, which includes fosaprepitant or aprepitant combined with palonosetron or ondansetron or tropisetron, can also be taken orally in a fixed combination of netupitant (300 mg) and palonosetron (0.50 mg))+ dexamethasone 10 mg IV 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy on Day 1, dexamethasone 8 mg IV on days 2, 3, 4 post chemotherapy. Dexamethasone doses may be individualized based on the doctor's judgment.All the antiemetic drugs used are the same as those in the true acupuncture group.
Proportion of patients with no nausea during the overall stage
The proportion of patients achieving no nausea is defined as patients who have a response of 0 on the Visual Analog Scale for nausea during the overall stage (0 to 120 hours) after the initiation of chemotherapy.
Time frame: 120 hours
Proportion of patients with no nausea during the early stage
The proportion of patients achieving no nausea is defined as patients who have a response of 0 on the Visual Analog Scale for nausea during the early stage (0 to 24 hours) after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 24 hours
Proportion of patients with no nausea during the delayed stage
The proportion of patients achieving no nausea is defined as patients who have a response of 0 on the Visual Analog Scale for nausea during the later stage (25 to 120 hours) after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 96 hours
The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and the proportion of patients with no nausea
The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes will be analyzed by detecting different bases (A, T, C, and G) in peripheral blood DNA. The proportion of patients with different SNP genotypes will be analyzed. The proportion of patients achieving no nausea is defined as patients who score 0 on the nausea Visual Analog Scale during the entire period (0 to 120 hours) following the initiation of chemotherapy. We will analyze the relationship between the proportion of patients with different SNP genotypes and the proportion of patients with no nausea
Time frame: 120 hours
The proportion of patients achieving total control in the overall stage, the early stage (0 to 24 hours), and the delayed stage (25 to 120 hours).
The proportion of patients achieving overall stage, early stage and delayed stage total control is defined as patients who have no vomiting/retching or rescue medications, and no nausea, specifically indicated by a nausea Visual Analog Scale score of 0 during 0 to 120 hours, 0 to 24 hours, and 25 to 120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, respectively
Time frame: 120 hours
The proportion of patients achieving complete protection in the overall stage, the early stage (0 to 24 hours), and the delayed stage (25 to 120 hours)
The proportion of patients achieving overall stage, early stage and delayed stage complete protection is defined as patients who have no vomiting/retching or rescue medications, and no significant nausea, specifically indicated by a nausea Visual Analog Scale score of less than 25 mm during 0 to 120 hours, 0 to 24 hours, and 25 to 120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, respectively
Time frame: 120 hours
The proportion of no significant nausea in the overall stage, the early stage (0 to 24 hours), and the delayed stage (25 to 120 hours)
The proportion of patients achieving overall stage, early stage and delayed stage no significant nausea is defined as patients who have no significant nausea, specifically indicated by a nausea Visual Analog Scale score of less than 25 mm during 0 to 120 hours, 0 to 24 hours, and 25 to 120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, respectively
Time frame: 120 hours
The proportion of no nausea (Visual Analog Scale score < 5) in the overall stage, the early stage (0 to 24 hours), and the delayed stage (25 to 120 hours)
The proportion of patients achieving overall stage, early stage and delayed stage no nausea (Visual Analog Scale score \< 5) is defined as patients who have no nausea (Visual Analog Scale score \< 5), specifically indicated by a nausea Visual Analog Scale score \< 5 mm during 0 to 120 hours, 0 to 24 hours, and 25 to 120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, respectively
Time frame: 120 hours
The proportion of patients achieving complete response in the overall stage, the early stage (0 to 24 hours), and the delayed stage (25 to 120 hours)
The proportion of patients achieving overall stage complete response is defined as patients who have no vomiting/retching or rescue medications during 0 to 120 hours, 0 to 24 hours, and 25 to 120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, respectively
Time frame: 120 hours
Quality of life in the overall stage
EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) is a standardized instrument used for assessing an individual's health-related quality of life. It comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has three levels that describe the person's level of functioning or well-being in that specific area. Additionally, EQ-5D includes a Visual Analog Scale where individuals rate their overall health on a scale from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health)
Time frame: 120 hours
Insomnia
The proportion of patients with insomnia evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events Version 5.0 during 0 to120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 120 hours
Fatigue
The proportion of patients with fatigue evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events Version 5.0 during 0 to120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 120 hours
Constipation
The proportion of patients with constipation evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events Version 4.0 during 0 to120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 120 hours
The side effects of electroacupuncture treatment
The proportion of side effects related to electroacupuncture treatment in patients evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events Version 5.0 during 0 to120 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy
Time frame: 120 hours
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