Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated with Chemotherapy for Stage II-IIIA Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Radical Surgery: A Retrospective Clinical Analysis with Small Sample Size.

Xueyu Zhao,Masataka Sunagawa,Shanshan Wang,Guang Zhu,Ting Yang,Xiaochun Zhang,Bo Pan,Yayun Qian,Jun Feng,Yan Yan,Yanqing Liu,Xiaojun Dai

doi:10.1155/2018/4369027

Abstract

Objective This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and conventional chemotherapy versus conventional chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radical surgery. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC from Subei People's Hospital and Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province from 2012 to 2016. Patients were divided into two groups: the TCM user group (patients receiving treatment with integrated TCM and conventional chemotherapy) and the non-TCM user group (patients receiving conventional chemotherapy only). The two groups were compared for their median disease-free survival (DFS) and median overall survival (OS). Results A total of 67 patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC were enrolled between January 2012 and December 2016. The median DFS for the non-TCM user group was 601 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 375.7-826.3). The median DFS for TCM user group could not be calculated. However, log-rank analysis showed that the median survival time in the TCM user group was significantly longer than that of the non-TCM user group (P < 0.05). In addition, several significant risk factors were detected for predicting disease prognosis in patients with NSCLC, such as age, ECOG, lymphatic metastasis, and body mass index (BMI). For patients harboring these independent risk factors, the DFS of TCM user group was much longer than that of non-TCM user group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Adjuvant therapy with TCM may reduce the rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis and prolong DFS of patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC.

Highlights

As one of the most common malignant tumors, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [1].Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all cases of lung cancer
Platinum-based chemotherapy is considered to be necessary and effective after surgery for patients with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which might be able to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence [16]
Whether Chinese medicine can reduce tumor recurrence and metastasis and prolong the survival of patients with NSCLC has become a hot topic in the field of Chinese medicine oncology

Summary

Introduction

As one of the most common malignant tumors, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [1]. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all cases of lung cancer. Despite advancements in therapeutic approaches, the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer remains about 10%-15% [2]. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine regimen for NSCLC at early stage gives priority to surgery. Multiple factors lead to the low overall survival (OS) rates in NSCLC patients, such as late diagnosis, high tumor recurrence, and metastasis. Based on current methods of therapy, tumor recurrence and metastasis remain a great challenge for a full cure despite the excellent outcomes after standard treatments

Methods

Results

Conclusion