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Comprehensive treatment with Chinese medicine in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A multicenter, prospective, cohort study

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Abstract

Objective

To determine whether additional Chinese medicine (CM) could prolong survival and improve the quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with Western medicine (WM) alone.

Methods

This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study. A total of 474 hospitalized patients with stage III–IV NSCLC were recruited and divided into 2 groups. Patients in the WM group received radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and optimal supportive therapy according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. In the integrative medicine (IM) group, individualized CM (Chinese patent medicines and injections) and WM were administered. The primary end point was overall survival, and the secondary end points were time to disease progression, adverse events, and QOL. Follow-up clinical examinations and chest radiography were performed every 2 months.

Results

The median survival was 16.60 months in the IM group and 13.13 months in the WM group (P<0.01). The incidences of loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting in the IM group were significantly lower than those in the WM group (P<0.05). The QOL based on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung in the IM group was markedly higher than that in the WM group at the fourth course (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Additional CM may prolong survival and improve the QOL patients with NSCLC. The adverse effects of radio- and chemotherapy may be attenuated as CM is used in combination with conventional treatments.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to all the patients whose participation made this study possible. They owe their gratitude to Liaoning Cancer Hospital; Shanxi Cancer Hospital; Jilin Cancer Hospital; Tianjin Cancer Hospital; Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University; China-Japan Friendship Hospital; Beijing Cancer Hospital; and Chifeng Municipal Hospital for data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China

    Jie Liu, Hong-sheng Lin, Wei Hou, Bao-jin Hua, Pei-tong Zhang, Jie Li, Mei-ying Zhang, Wen-guang Shi, Nian-bo Guan, Tian-yu Guan, Cong-huang Li, Li-yuan Lu, Ying Zhang, Dao-rui Li & Hao Liu

  2. Department of Integrative Oncology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, 110042, China

    Shen-yu Wang

  3. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Xi’an, 030013, China

    Ying Xie

  4. Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130021, China

    Yue Zhang

  5. Department of Integrative Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China

    Guang-ru Xie

Authors
  1. Jie Liu
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  2. Hong-sheng Lin
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  3. Wei Hou
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  18. Dao-rui Li
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  19. Hao Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong-sheng Lin.

Additional information

Supported by National Key Technologies Research and Development Program for the 11th Five-Year Plan (No. 2006BAI04A05)

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Liu, J., Lin, Hs., Hou, W. et al. Comprehensive treatment with Chinese medicine in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A multicenter, prospective, cohort study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 733–739 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2737-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2737-1

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