NCT02304913

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate hypoglossal acupuncture in comparison to sham acupuncture and standard medical treatment (dietary recommendations) in the treatment of dysgeusia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
75

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
20mo left

Started Jan 2015

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress87%
Jan 2015Dec 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 19, 2014

Completed
13 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 2, 2014

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2015

Completed
13 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2027

Last Updated

April 14, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

13 years

First QC Date

November 19, 2014

Last Update Submit

April 9, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Dysgeusia (Phantogeusia) (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Dysgeusia (Parageusia, Hypogeusia, Hypergeusia) (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

  • Xerostomia (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

  • Stomatitis (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

  • Appetite (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

  • Impairment (NRS - Numeric Rating Scale)

    7 days

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Treatment Expectancy and Credibility (TCS - Treatment Credibility Scale + BI - Blining Index)

    7 days

Study Arms (3)

Hypoglossal acupuncture

EXPERIMENTAL

Single treatment of hypoglossal needle acupuncture during the chemotherapy administration: Treated points will be Jinjin (Golden Liquid/EX-HN12) left beside the lingual frenulum and Yuye (Jade Fluid/EX-HN13) right beside the lingual frenulum. Both points are treated in quick succession with immediate removal of the needle.

Other: Hypoglossal acupuncture

Sham acupuncture

SHAM COMPARATOR

Single treatment of hypoglossal sham acupuncture uring the chemotherapy administration: Treated points will be 1 to 1.5 cun (a cun is defined as the width of the patient's thumb at the knuckle) beside the verum acupuncture points Jinjin and Yuye using the dull side of the needle.

Other: Sham acupuncture

Dietary recommendations

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group adheres to specific dietary recommendations for dysgeusia of the German Cancer Society.

Behavioral: Dietary recommendations

Interventions

Hypoglossal acupuncture
Sham acupuncture
Dietary recommendations

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Initial treatment with platinum-containing or taxane-based CTX (regardless of the the length of the CTX cycle)
  • Senological, gynecological or internistic tumors
  • Phantogeusia (on average ≥4 NRS)
  • Willingness to participate in the study and written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Severe stomatitis
  • Dysgeusia before the CTX based on neurological diseases, diabetes, or the ingestion of drugs with taste disorders as side effects
  • Leucopenia/neutropenia
  • Intake of anticoagulants
  • Smoking
  • Severe physical or mental comorbidity (due to which the patient is unable to participate in the study)
  • Participation in other CAM treatments within the integrative oncology care
  • Participation in other studies on the effectiveness of interventions for oral complications

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Department of Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45136, Germany

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING

Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Internistische Onkologie

Mannheim, 68167, Germany

RECRUITING

Robert Bosch Krankenhaus Stuttgart

Stuttgart, 70376, Germany

NOT YET RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Haller H, Wang T, Lauche R, Choi KE, Voiss P, Felber S, Cramer H, Ataseven B, Kummel S, Paul A, Dobos G. Hypoglossal acupuncture for acute chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia in patients with breast cancer: study protocol of a randomized, sham-controlled trial. Trials. 2019 Jul 4;20(1):398. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3525-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Taste DisordersDysgeusiaNeoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensation DisordersNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Gustav Dobos, Prof., MD

    Center for Integrative Medicine and Health, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Heidemarie Haller, PhD

CONTACT

Holger Cramer, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 19, 2014

First Posted

December 2, 2014

Study Start

January 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Last Updated

April 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations