Acupoint-symptom quantitative analysis of acupuncture for alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms after chemotherapy for cancer☆

Objective To define the core acupoints for improving gastrointestinal symptoms after chemotherapy, clarify their association with primary indications, and provide a scientific basis for optimizing clinical acupoint selection and constructing evidence-based foundational prescriptions. Methods A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for relevant literature published between August 2005 and August 2025. After rigorous screening, data on acupoint usage, acupoint-symptom relationship pairs, and symptom improvement were extracted to quantitatively analyze the acupoint selection patterns in acupuncture to improve gastrointestinal symptoms after chemotherapy. Complex network analysis was used to construct a bipartite acupoint-symptom network. Core acupoints and their targeted symptom profiles were identified using the symptom-acupoint association network. The internal relationships and hierarchical structure among the symptoms were analyzed using a symptom co-occurrence network to elucidate the underlying logic of the intervention and the strength weights within the network. Topological metrics were calculated using Gephi 0.10.0. Community detection was performed using the modularity algorithm, and visualization was conducted using the Force Atlas 2 algorithm to comprehensively determine the core acupoints based on multi-dimensional indicators. Results A total of 55 studies involving 3,721 patients were included. Neiguan (PC6), Zhongwan (CV12), Gongsun (SP4), and Zusanli (ST36) were identified as the core acupoints. Vomiting and nausea occupied core positions in the symptom network. Conclusion Acupuncture improved gastrointestinal symptoms after chemotherapy at the core acupoints Neiguan (PC6), Zhongwan (CV12), Gongsun (SP4), and Zusanli (ST36). Neiguan is highly targeted at nausea and vomiting, Zhongwan exhibits broad-spectrum regulation across multiple symptoms, Gongsun focuses on abdominal distension and diarrhea, and Zusanli addresses diverse symptom types. Clinically, priority should be given to selecting acupoints targeting nausea and vomiting, the core symptoms within the network, and leveraging the associative effects among the symptoms to drive overall improvement.