Zhongguo linchuang yanjiu (Mar 2024)
Moxibustion at Neiguan acupoint in the prevention of myocardial damage caused by chemotherapy in breast cancer
Abstract
Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion on Neiguan acupoint in preventing myocardial damage caused by anthracycline-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and to explore the feasibility of moxibustion on Neiguan acupoint in reducing cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapy. Methods A total of 80 breast cancer patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with EC-T (pirarubicin + cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel) regimen after surgery in the Department of Breast Cancer, Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital from May 2020 to May 2021 were selected and divided into control group (n=40) and experimental group (n=40) randomly. During the first four cycles of chemotherapy, both groups received dexrazoxane on the same day as pirarubicin. The experimental group received moxibustion on Neiguan acupoint for three consecutive days starting one day before chemotherapy. The electrocardiograms, cardiac function, levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score were observed before and after four cycles of chemotherapy. Results After four cycles of chemotherapy, the incidences of arrhythmia ［22.5%(9/40) vs 50.0%(20/40), χ2=6.545, P=0.011］ and QRS wave voltage decrease［27.5%(11/40) vs 55.0%(22/40), χ2=6.241, P=0.012］ in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group. The cardiac function classification in the experimental group was better than that in the control group ( Z=2.388，P＜0.017). After four cycles of chemotherapy, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) increased in the control group, while LVEF and LVEDD changes were not significant in the experimental group. The cTnI levels, NT-proBNP levels, and KPS scores increased in both groups, and LVEF, LVEDD, cTnI, NT-proBNP levels, and KPS scores were better in the experimental group than those in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion on Neiguan acupoint has a significant protective effect on myocardial damage caused by chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and can further improve myocardial function on the basis of dexrazoxane.
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