• To learn the effect of acupoint electro-stimulation on preventing nausea and vomiting caused by receiving cisplatin or oxaliplatin treatment for liver cancer. [ Time Frame: 2 Years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Researchers also want to see if this stimulation will affect aspects of your quality-of-life. [ Time Frame: 2 Years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects caused by chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that acupuncture can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture uses very thin needles inserted at certain points on the body that are believed to affect bodily functions. Researchers want to study the effects on nausea and vomiting of giving electro-stimulation (using wires attached to the body to provide very small electrical shocks to the skin) to an acupuncture site, compared to giving electro-stimulation to a inactive site (a site that does not respond to acupuncture).

Before you can start treatment on this study, you will have screening tests. These tests will help the doctor decide if you are eligible to take part in this study. Your complete medical history will be recorded. You will have a physical exam, including measurement of your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and breathing rate). You will be asked about drugs you have taken in the last 30 days. You will be asked to complete 2 questionnaires about your health and quality-of-life. These should take about 5 minutes to complete. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis will be completed by research staff. This will include a check of your pulse, examination of your tongue, and answering some general questions. The assessment will be conducted by a doctor, as well as by using a heart-rate machine and taking a photograph of your tongue.

If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will be randomly assigned (as in the toss of a coin) to be in 1 of 2 groups. Participants in one group will receive electro-stimulation at an active (responsive) acupuncture site on the bottom of the foot. Participants in the other group will receive electro-stimulation at a inactive site on the bottom of the foot (a placebo site).

Participants in both groups will have electro-stimulation on the feet. You will sit or lie down in bed. The acupuncturist will wet the points with a cotton ball dipped in water and attach the electrodes of the electro-stimulating instrument to the bottom of your feet. The electrodes are little paddles that will be attached with tape. The acupuncturist will begin slowly increasing the stimulation to a level you can withstand comfortably. This will last about 30 minutes.

The stimulation will occur about 1-2 hours before your transarterial infusion (TAI) chemotherapy on the first day, and then between 7-9 A.M. on the next 5 days.

After each electro-stimulation procedure, your vital signs will be measured, you will complete quality-of-life questionnaires, and you will be asked about hiccups and diet tolerance (how nausea has affected your ability to eat or how much you eat). After your last electro-stimulation, you will also have a TCM diagnosis. This will include diagnosis by a doctor as well as by using a heart-rate machine and taking a photograph of your tongue. Blood (about 1 teaspoon) will also be drawn to check your liver function about 6 days after the treatments.

You will be given the standard medicines if you experience uncontrolled nausea or vomiting while on this study.

Your total participation on this study will last less than 2 weeks.

This is an investigational study. Up to 100 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at the Fudan University Cancer Hospital.