Cancer: Colorectal
Action: Raises immune function, increased QoL
Colorectal Carcinoma
Forty patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were observed in a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Out of them, the 37 evaluable patients were assigned into the treatment group (18 patients) and the control group (19 patients). They were all treated by the routine treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while those in the treatment group were administered with QXC additionally. The scores of TCM symptom, QOF and KPS in the treatment group were 15.59 +/- 3.78, 54.06 +/- 3.96 and 64.71 +/- 6.24 before treatment, and 10.53 +/- 5.57, 58.65 +/- 4.03, 69.41 +/- 4.29 after treatment, respectively, showing significant improvement (P<0.05).
While the three scores in the control group were 16.11 +/- 3.99, 54.06 +/- 4.39 and 64.44 +/- 5.11 before treatment, and 19.61 +/- 7.78, 50.17 +/- 8.26 and 60.00 +/- 9.70 after treatment, respectively, showing a statistically significant worsening tendency in the latter two (P <0.05). QXC can reduce the FR, prolong the ST, mST, mCFPT, and improve the QOF in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (Yang et al., 2008).
Forty four patients chosen from 48 patients with colorectal cancer at post-operational period (with 2 dropped out and 2 loss of follow-up) were assigned into two groups (A and B) according to randomized block design and received intervention treatment with QXC and placebo, respectively, which started after terminating the post-operational adjuvant treatment and lasted for 6 m. Out of the 44 patients, 28 were of stage H (15 in Group A and 13 in Group B) and 16 of stage Ill (8 in Group A and 8 in Group B). The relapse-metastasis (R-M) rate, median time of R- M, changes of symptoms, Karnofsky (KPS) score and immune function before and after intervention, as well as the safety of QXC, were observed.
The symptoms and KPS score in Group A were obviously better (P< 0.05), with improvement in B lymphocyte (P< 0.05) superior to that in Group B. No obvious adverse reaction to QXC was found. QXC might be effective in delaying the R-M of colorectal cancer, but the ultimate confirmation only could be obtained through 1– 2 y observation. Post-operational intervention with QXC in patients with colorectal cancer could apparently improve the quality of life and raise the immune function of patients; it is safe and might have some clinical significance in preventing the R-M of cancer (Yang et al., 2007).
Formula
Semen Crotonis (ba dou), Fructus Evodiae Rutaecarpae (wu zhu yu), Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis (gan jiang), Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae (rou gui), Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli (chuan wu), Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae (ban xia), Exocarpium Citri Erythrocarpae (ju hong)
References