Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
Feasibility of Auricular Acupressure for Appetite and Weight in Patients With Stage II-IV Gastric, Esophageal, and Pancreatic Cancer
NCT05911243 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
This clinical trial evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of acupressure to the ear (auricular) to address appetite and weight in patients with stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, or pancreatic cancer. Cancer anorexia, the abnormal loss of appetite, directly leads to cancer-associated weight loss (cachexia) through malnourishment, reduced caloric intake, treatment side-effects, and other modifiable risk factors. Cachexia prolongs length of hospital stay for patients, negatively impacts treatment tolerance and adherence, and reduces overall patient quality of life. Auricular acupressure is a form of micro-acupuncture that exerts its effect by stimulating the central nervous system using adhesive taped pellets applied to specific locations on the external ear. The use of these pellets to deliver auricular acupressure has been shown to improve pain, fatigue, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, depression, and quality of life in both cancer and non-cancer settings. Auricular acupressure is a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive approach to addressing cancer-related symptoms and treatment side-effects and may be effective at improving appetite and weight loss in stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer patients.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- PROCEDURE Biospecimen Collection
- OTHER Questionnaire Administration
- OTHER Best Practice
- PROCEDURE Acupressure Therapy
Study Locations (1)
Washington
- Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium — Seattle
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 66 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-07-22 |
| Est. Completion | 2026-12-31 |
| Phase | NA |
Interested in This Trial?
Always speak with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.
Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05911243
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05911243 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 66 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Washington, which has 987 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 10 conditions, with Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8 appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 4 interventions — of which Biospecimen Collection is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05911243 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Washington. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05911243 about?
NCT05911243 is a clinical study titled "Feasibility of Auricular Acupressure for Appetite and Weight in Patients With Stage II-IV Gastric, Esophageal, and Pancreatic Cancer". This clinical trial evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of acupressure to the ear (auricular) to address appetite and weight in patients with stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, or pancreatic cancer. Cancer anorexia, the abnormal loss of appetite, directly leads to cancer-associated weight loss...
What is the current status of trial NCT05911243?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 66 participants. The study started on 2024-07-22. Estimated completion is 2026-12-31.
What conditions does trial NCT05911243 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Stage II Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage II Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05911243?
The interventions under investigation include: Biospecimen Collection (PROCEDURE), Questionnaire Administration (OTHER), Best Practice (OTHER), Acupressure Therapy (PROCEDURE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05911243?
This trial is sponsored by University of Washington, which has 987 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05911243 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Washington. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How Clinical Trials Work
Understand phases 1-4, trial design, randomization, and the informed consent process.
Patient Rights in Clinical Trials
Your rights as a participant: consent, withdrawal, privacy, and who to contact.
Finding the Right Clinical Trial
A practical guide to searching trials, understanding eligibility, and evaluating options.
All Guides
Browse our complete library of clinical trial educational resources.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.