Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29128952›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2018

Effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: a meta-analysis.

Yan Zhang, Lu Lin, Huiling Li, Yan Hu, Li Tian

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 68 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
68citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
16.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05067777 phase2terminatednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Massage for Prostate Cancer-Related Fatigue (mPROSTATE)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of UtahRan2022 to 2025Enrolled28ConditionsProstate CarcinomaArmsSwedish Massage Therapy (SMT), Light Touch (LT) Control, Waitlist Control (WLC)
NCT06633666 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Acupuncture for Long COVID Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: a Pragmatic,Randomized Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorHong Kong Baptist UniversityRan2023 to 2026Enrolled160ConditionsLong Covid19, Neuropsychiatric Symptom, AcupunctureArmsAcupuncture
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

68 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 165 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  8. The efficacy of placebo for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2020
    Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Effect of contact needle technique on cancer-related fatigue in palliative care patients: a randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Trial
  11. Effect of acupuncture on fatigue in cancer survivors with chronic pain: a secondary analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
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8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yan ZhangThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, P.O. Box 102, Suzhou, China.
Lu LinSchool of Nursing, Soochow University, P.O. Box 203, Suzhou, China.
Huiling LiSchool of Nursing, Soochow University, P.O. Box 203, Suzhou, China.
Yan HuSchool of Nursing, Fudan University, P.O. Box 401, Shanghai, China.
Li TianThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, P.O. Box 102, Suzhou, China. tianlisz@suda.edu.cn.
First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University · CNSoochow University · CNFudan University · CN

Funding

Suzhou Science and Technology Development Project SYS 201526
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study was designed to critically evaluate the effect of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue (CRF).

methodsSeven databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, CBM, Wanfang, and CNKI) were systematically reviewed from inception to November 2016 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two reviewers critically and independently assessed the risk of bias using Cochrane Collaboration criteria and extracted correlated data using the designed form. All analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.

resultsTen RCTs, including 1327 patients (acupuncture, 733; control, 594), meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis were identified. Acupuncture had a marked effect on fatigue in cancer patients, regardless of concurrent anti-cancer treatment, particularly among breast cancer patients. The meta-analysis also indicated that acupuncture could significantly mitigate CRF compared with sham acupuncture or usual care. Acupuncture for 20-30 min/session three times/week for two or three weeks, twice weekly for two weeks and weekly for six weeks, and weekly for six weeks had substantial effects on CRF. Six RCTs reported the occurrence of adverse events, whereas five reported none. The remaining study reported some manageable events, including spot bleeding and bruising.

conclusionsAcupuncture is effective for CRF management and should be recommended as a beneficial alternative therapy for CRF patients, particularly for breast cancer patients and those currently undergoing anti-cancer treatment.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyFatigueHumansNeoplasmsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAcupunctureCancer-related fatigueMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID29128952
OpenAlexW2767722477

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.