초록 ▼

골암 통증의 임상 요구도는 단순 진통에 그치지 않으며 암성 통증의 질환 특이적 효능을 요구함. 현재 진통 전략과 골흡수억제제를 병행하고 있으나 제한적 효능과 부작용의 극복이 필요함.
본 연구 과제에서는 골암 통증 모델 (bone cancer pain rat model)에서 전침의 진통 효능을 확인하고 그 기전을 분석함.
전침의 단회 치료가 골암통증에 대하여 진통 효능을 발휘함을 확인하였을 뿐 아니라, 전침의 반복 치료에 의한 누적 효과를 확인하였으며, 기존 치료제 (NSAIDs, bisphosphonates)와 비교하여

골암 통증의 임상 요구도는 단순 진통에 그치지 않으며 암성 통증의 질환 특이적 효능을 요구함. 현재 진통 전략과 골흡수억제제를 병행하고 있으나 제한적 효능과 부작용의 극복이 필요함.
본 연구 과제에서는 골암 통증 모델 (bone cancer pain rat model)에서 전침의 진통 효능을 확인하고 그 기전을 분석함.
전침의 단회 치료가 골암통증에 대하여 진통 효능을 발휘함을 확인하였을 뿐 아니라, 전침의 반복 치료에 의한 누적 효과를 확인하였으며, 기존 치료제 (NSAIDs, bisphosphonates)와 비교하여 동등 혹은 우수함을 확인함.
전침의 진통 기전은 nociceptive modulator의 발현을 억제하고 골암 진행의 조정에 일부 기반함.
이는 반복 치료를 통하여 효과를 발휘하는 한의학 치료 기법의 특성을 반영하는 것으로, 임상 진료 특성을 기초 실험에 직접 반영함으로서 기존 연구의 한계를 극복하고, 연구 결과의 원활한 임상 확산에 기여하는 접근 전략임.
본 연구 과제의 성과로 도출된 특정 암성통증 치료 효과 및 기전 연구는 향후 한의학 치료 시장 확장에 직접적으로 기여할 것으로 기대됨.

Abstract ▼

Ⅰ. Objectives of research
Stepwise approach of analgesics and bisphosphonates is typically recommended, but there are needs for safer and more effective treatment modalities. This research focuses on the analgesic mechanism and effects of electroacupuncture, which is widely used for alleviating p

Ⅰ. Objectives of research
Stepwise approach of analgesics and bisphosphonates is typically recommended, but there are needs for safer and more effective treatment modalities. This research focuses on the analgesic mechanism and effects of electroacupuncture, which is widely used for alleviating pain in clinical setting. The bone cancer pain rat model was used to achieve this end.
The goals of research are to provide a basis for electroacupuncture use in treating cancer pain, and thereby increase its clinical value.

Ⅱ. Results of research
Cancer induced bone pain was significantly inhibited not only by single treatment but also repetitive daily administration of ST36 electroacupuncture, equally or superiorly compared to NSAIDs and bisphosphonates. The analgesic mechanisms was partially mediated by suppression of nociceptive modulator expression and progress of bone cancer.
1) Creating a cancer pain rat model :
- intrafemoral injection of W256 rat mammary gland carcinoma cells
- Physical, histological, radiological observations and pain threshold were evaluated.
- Determination of initiation of electroacupuncture treatment at the worst state.
2) EA treatment
- Animal acupoints correlating to human ST36 (Zusanli)
- Evaluations on the duration of EA analgesia and stress reactions of animals
3) Behavioral assessment
- Pain threshold : tail flick latency(TFL)
- pain-escaping behavior : nocifensive behavior assessment
4) Analgesic mechanism study
- nociceptive modulator : Endothelin-1, PGE2, IL-1, TNF-a
- histological assessment : Hematoxylin & Eosin stain
5) Comparisonal analysis to conventional treatment : celecoxib, alendronate

Ⅲ. Expectation and future plan
1) develop a safe, effective analgesic strategy by overcoming current limitations of side effects, drug-interactions, inefficacy in cancer pain treatment
2) utilize the database on the cancer pain analgesic mechanism into future research for novel cancer pain treatment
3) in-vivo model establishment for future research
4) satisfy the socio-economical needs of improving quality of life for cancer patients
5) expand and objectively investigate the possibilities of clinical use of EA
6) establish multidisciplinary research infrastructure for industry-academic cooperation in oriental medical field
7) development of new acupuncture techniques by clarifying the analgesic mechanism
8) affirmation of scientific research methodology on acupuncture, and application to collegiate education