Abstract
BackgroundTo evaluate the effect of qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy in survival of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients with essence and qi deficiency.MethodsA prospective multi-centered randomized controlled study was conducted, and 266 advanced NSCLC patients were enrolled. 126 patients in control group received Vinorelbine plus cisplatin(NP) chemotherapy combined with symptom-oriented Chinese herbs medication(without qi-nourishing essence-replenishing herbs);140 patients in experimental group received NP chemotherapy combined with qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medication(Kangliu Zengxiao Decoction and modified Feiyanning Decoction, during and after chemotherapy respectively).ResultsOne patient in control and 2 in experimental group were excluded for failure to complete two cycles of chemotherapy. During follow-up, 17 and 7 patients in control and experimental group were excluded respectively(4 and 4 for taking Gefetinib after disease progression, 4 and 2 for receiving other chemotherapeutic regimens, 9 and 1 for lost to follow-up). 239 patients were included in the final analysis (131 in experimental group and 108 in control). Median overall survival in experimental group was significantly longer than control group (14.87vs.12.97 months,P = 0.027). In experimental and control group, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, and 9-year survival rates were 57% vs. 53%, 17% vs. 8%, 10% vs. 2%, 6% vs. 0%, and 6% vs. 0%, respectively.ConclusionQi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy improves survival of advanced NSCLC patients with essence and qi deficiency.
Highlights
To evaluate the effect of qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy in survival of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients with essence and qi deficiency
Qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy improves survival of advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) patients with essence and qi deficiency
Our previous studies [8,9,10,11,12] have demonstrated that therapy of qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) by stages combined with chemotherapy can improve short-term lesion stability, quality of life and immunity in advanced NSCLC patients.The present study demonstrated that it prolongs overall survival and improves the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9-year survival rates
Summary
To evaluate the effect of qi-nourishing essence-replenishing Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy in survival of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients with essence and qi deficiency. The overall survival of advanced NSCLC patients remains low after first-line chemotherapy. Prognosis for these patients is poor with 5-year survival rates reported as less than 5% [4]. Since chemotherapy have been adopted in China, Chinese herbal medicine(CHM) is widely used in combination with chemotherapy to cope with chemotherapy-related side effects as well as prolonging the survival time of patients. Our previous studies have demonstrated that qi-nourishing essencereplenishing CHM combined with chemotherapy can improve short-term lesion stability, quality of life and immunity in advanced NSCLC patients [8,9,10,11,12]. Its effect on the long-term survival remains unknown
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