Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Breast Cancer-Related Symptoms: An Evidence Map
- 1Korean Medicine Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women worldwide. Despite advances in medical treatment, many survivors experience distressing symptoms and therapy-related side effects that impair quality of life. Acupuncture-related therapies are increasingly employed as supportive care strategies, yet their evidence base remains fragmented.
Objective: To construct an evidence map of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses evaluating acupuncture and related therapies for breast cancer-related symptoms.
Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Research Information Service System (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Search Integrated System (OASIS), and Korean Studies Information Services System (KISS) from inception to April 24, 2025. Eligible SRs included breast cancer populations, any acupuncture-related intervention, and reported outcomes relevant to symptom management or treatment side effects. Data extraction included bibliographic details, intervention type, outcomes, number of studies, sample size, effect direction, and methodological quality (AMSTAR-2). Evidence was synthesized descriptively and presented using heatmaps.
Results: A total of 47 SRs with meta-analysis were included, covering 11 distinct symptom domains and 6 categories of interventions. The most frequently studied outcomes were hot flashes (n=9), general supportive care during chemotherapy (n=9), lymphedema (n=7), general side effect management (n=6), and aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (n=4). The most common interventions were acupuncture (n=17), acupuncture combination therapies (n=16), and acupoint injection (n=9). Across the included SRs, 20 reported positive effects, 23 were mixed, and 4 reported no clear evidence of benefit. Only 8 of 47 SRs achieved moderate confidence, and none were rated high, indicating widespread methodological limitations across the evidence base (29 low, 10 critically low).
Conclusion: Acupuncture and related therapies are widely studied as supportive care strategies for breast cancer-related symptoms with promising evidence. However, the majority of SRs are of low methodological quality. High-quality trials and rigorously conducted systematic reviews are needed to strengthen the evidence base, reduce redundancy, and guide integrative oncology practice.
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BibTeX
@article{ang2026acupuncture,
title = {{Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Breast Cancer-Related Symptoms: An Evidence Map}},
author = {Lin Ang and Ji Hee Jun and Changsop Yang and Myeong Soo Lee and Tae-Young Choi},
journal = {Integrative Cancer Therapies},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/15347354261490583},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354261490583},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Breast Cancer-Related Symptoms: An Evidence Map
AU - Lin Ang
AU - Ji Hee Jun
AU - Changsop Yang
AU - Myeong Soo Lee
AU - Tae-Young Choi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Integrative Cancer Therapies
DO - 10.1177/15347354261490583
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354261490583
AB - Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women worldwide. Despite advances in medical treatment, many survivors experience distressing symptoms and therapy-related side effects that impair quality of life. Acupuncture-related therapies are increasingly employed as supportive care strategies, yet their evidence base remains fragmented. Objective: To construct an evidence map of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses evaluating acupuncture and related therapies for breast cancer-related symptoms. Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Research Information Service System (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Search Integrated System (OASIS), and Korean Studies Information Services System (KISS) from inception to April 24, 2025. Eligible SRs included breast cancer populations, any acupuncture-related intervention, and reported outcomes relevant to symptom management or treatment side effects. Data extraction included bibliographic details, intervention type, outcomes, number of studies, sample size, effect direction, and methodological quality (AMSTAR-2). Evidence was synthesized descriptively and presented using heatmaps. Results: A total of 47 SRs with meta-analysis were included, covering 11 distinct symptom domains and 6 categories of interventions. The most frequently studied outcomes were hot flashes (n=9), general supportive care during chemotherapy (n=9), lymphedema (n=7), general side effect management (n=6), and aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (n=4). The most common interventions were acupuncture (n=17), acupuncture combination therapies (n=16), and acupoint injection (n=9). Across the included SRs, 20 reported positive effects, 23 were mixed, and 4 reported no clear evidence of benefit. Only 8 of 47 SRs achieved moderate confidence, and none were rated high, indicating widespread methodological limitations across the evidence base (29 low, 10 critically low). Conclusion: Acupuncture and related therapies are widely studied as supportive care strategies for breast cancer-related symptoms with promising evidence. However, the majority of SRs are of low methodological quality. High-quality trials and rigorously conducted systematic reviews are needed to strengthen the evidence base, reduce redundancy, and guide integrative oncology practice.
SN - 1534-7354
SN - 1552-695X
ER -