Gardani, G., Cerrone, R., Biella, C., Galbiati, G., Proserpio, E., Casiraghi, M., … Lissoni, P. (2007). A progress study of 100 cancer patients treated by acupressure for chemotherapy-induced vomiting after failure of pharmacological approach. Minerva Medica, 98(6), 665-668.

To confirm the potential therapeutic efficacy of PC6 stimulation by acupressure in patients with cancer experiencing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) after failure with pharmacologic approaches

PC6 acupoint was stimulated by acupressure with a button (P6 nausea control Sea-Band^®) for eight hours per day at home, starting before the onset of chemotherapy, and for at least three days after chemotherapy.

The study consisted of 100 consecutive patients with metastatic solid tumors admitted to receive chemotherapy for advanced disease.

Patients were included in the study if they had

• Histologically proven metastatic solid tumor.
• Measurable lesions.
• No double tumor or brain metastasis.
• No previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
• No concomitant illnesses other than cancer.
• Grade 3 or 4 vomiting.
• No response to conventional antiemetic therapies.

The study was conducted in Italy.

World Health Organization criteria were used.

Overall, 68% of patients achieved control of emesis.

No significant differences in efficacy were observed in relation to tumor histotype.

The percentage of efficacy varied in relation to type of chemotherapy. The lowest results were observed in patients treated with anthracyclines, whereas more benefit was seen in patients with other chemotherapy agents. However, the efficacy achieved was greater than 50% in the treatment of vomiting because of anthracyclines.

The study confirmed the efficacy of acupressure in the treatment of CINV with a larger number of patients than previously studied. Acupressure appears to be effective in reducing vomiting experienced as a result of most commonly used chemotherapy agents.

• Only vomiting was measured; nausea was not.
• This population was heterogeneous with different tumor types and chemotherapy agents.
• Antiemetics before and after chemotherapy were not described.
• No specific exclusion criteria were listed.
• Several questions arose related to the intervention: who taught the patients how to use the Sea-Bands; what training did that person have; and how, when, and who evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention.