Weidong Lu’s publications

Research that
informs patient care.

Weidong Lu’s research explores acupuncture in cancer care, focusing on symptoms, quality of life, and safe clinical integration.

Explore the studies

These are Weidong Lu’s publications. For an introduction to traditional concepts and research by other teams, watch the short video lessons.

Three questions from patient care

First-authored studies, with findings and limits explained.

01 / 32024 · Cancer

Chinese brush calligraphy: 和 — Hé · HarmonyA reflection on living with treatment-related hot flashes.

First author · Pooled randomized trials

Living with fewer hot flashes

This study brought together 158 women receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer in the United States, China, and South Korea. After 10 weeks, those offered acupuncture reported greater improvements in hot-flash scores, other hormone-related symptoms, and breast cancer-specific quality of life than those waiting for acupuncture.

What might this mean for me?

Acupuncture may be worth discussing when hot flashes interfere with daily life during breast cancer hormone therapy.
The study evaluated a course of treatment over 10 weeks, not the effect of a single visit.
The findings concern symptom support alongside hormone therapy. They do not show an effect on cancer recurrence or survival.

What is still uncertain?There was no sham-acupuncture comparison, and the size of the benefit differed across study sites.

Paper details & sources

Acupuncture for hot flashes in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: A pooled analysis of individual patient data from parallel randomized trials.

Weidong Lu, Anita Giobbie-Hurder, Anna Tanasijevic, Sylvia Baedorf Kassis, Sung Hwan Park, Young Ju Jeong, Im Hee Shin, Chang Yao, Hyun Jung Jung, Zhiyuan Zhu, Chao Bao, Ting Bao, EunMee Yang, Barbara E Bierer, Jennifer A Ligibel

Cancer · 2024
PMID 38924035 · DOI 10.1002/cncr.35374

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02 / 32020 · The oncologist

Chinese brush calligraphy: 感 — Gǎn · SensationPaying attention to the sensations that shape everyday life.

First author · Randomized pilot trial

Understanding numbness, tingling, and nerve pain

In this small trial, 40 women with nerve symptoms after taxane chemotherapy for breast cancer were assigned to acupuncture or usual care. After eight weeks, the acupuncture group reported greater improvements in sensory symptoms and pain.

What might this mean for me?

Nerve symptoms can persist after chemotherapy ends. This study explored an option for people already living with those symptoms.
Changes in numbness, tingling, and pain can be tracked over time to judge whether treatment is helping.
Improved symptoms do not necessarily mean damaged nerves have regrown. That was not established by this trial.

What is still uncertain?This was a 40-person pilot without a sham-acupuncture group. It does not establish benefits for every cause of neuropathy.

Paper details & sources

Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Weidong Lu, Anita Giobbie-Hurder, Rachel A Freedman, Im Hee Shin, Nancy U Lin, Ann H Partridge, David S Rosenthal, Jennifer A Ligibel

The oncologist · 2020
PMID 32297442 · DOI 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0489

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03 / 32016 · The oncologist

Chinese brush calligraphy: 咽 — Yān · ThroatRecognizing how swallowing connects treatment and daily life.

First author · Sham-controlled pilot trial

Asking better questions about swallowing

This trial studied 42 people receiving chemotherapy and radiation for head and neck cancer. It showed that a carefully controlled acupuncture study was feasible. Swallowing-related quality of life improved in both the active and sham groups, with no statistically significant difference between them.

What might this mean for me?

Swallowing-related quality of life is an important part of cancer recovery and deserves attention in care discussions.
Improvement during a study is not enough to prove a treatment works. Comparing the groups is essential.
This trial does not establish acupuncture as an effective treatment for swallowing difficulty or a replacement for swallowing care.

What is still uncertain?The study was small and focused on feasibility. A specific benefit over sham acupuncture was not demonstrated.

Paper details & sources

Acupuncture for Chemoradiation Therapy-Related Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

Weidong Lu, Peter M Wayne, Roger B Davis, Julie E Buring, Hailun Li, Eric A Macklin, Jochen H Lorch, Elaine Burke, Tyler C Haddad, Laura A Goguen, David S Rosenthal, Roy B Tishler, Marshall R Posner, Robert I Haddad

The oncologist · 2016
PMID 27511906 · DOI 10.1634/theoncologist.2015-0538

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How acupuncture worksFive short videos, from traditional ideas to modern science.Research in practiceConsider safety, quality of life, and the limits of early findings.Publication libraryBrowse the full collection of 39 verified publications.

Care begins with you.

Research helps inform the conversation. Your care plan starts with your symptoms, treatment history, and priorities.

Discuss your care

Acupuncture is supportive care. It does not replace cancer treatment or other necessary medical care.

Research thatinforms patient care.

Three questions from patient care

Living with fewer hot flashes

What might this mean for me?

Understanding numbness, tingling, and nerve pain

What might this mean for me?

Asking better questions about swallowing

What might this mean for me?

Continue exploring

Care begins with you.

Research that
informs patient care.