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Gefitinib plus Fuzheng Kang’ai Formula (扶正抗癌方) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Fuzheng Kang’ai Formula (扶正抗癌方, FZKA) plus gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2009 to 2012 in South China. Seventy chemotherapynaive patients diagnosed with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations were randomly assigned to GF group [gefitinib (250 mg/day orally) plus FZKA (250 mL, twice per day, orally); 35 cases] or G group (gefitinib 250 mg/day orally; 35 cases) according to the random number table and received treatment until progression of the disease, or development of unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint [progression-free survival (PFS)] and secondary endpoints [median survival time (MST), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety] were observed.

Results

No patient was excluded after randomization. GF group had significantly longer PFS and MST compared with the G group, with median PFS of 12.5 months (95% CI 3.30–21.69) vs. 8.4 months (95% CI 6.30–10.50; log-rank P<0.01), MST of 21.5 months (95% CI 17.28–25.73) vs. 18.3 months (95% CI 17.97–18.63; log-rank P<0.01). ORR and DCR in GF group and G group were 65.7% vs. 57.1%, 94.3% vs. 80.0%, respectively (P>0.05). The most common toxic effects in the GF group and G group were rash or acne (42.8% vs. 57.1%, P>0.05), diarrhea (11.5% vs. 31.4%, P<0.05), and stomatitis (2.9% vs. 8.7%, P>0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer selected by EGFR mutations have longer PFS, MST with less toxicity treated with gefitinib plus FZKA than gefitinib alone.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. OU Ai-hua in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for managing the statistic analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China

    Xiao-bing Yang, Xiao-shu Chai, Wan-yin Wu, Shun-qin Long, Hong Deng, Zong-qi Pan, Wen-feng He, Yu-shu Zhou, Gui-ya Liao & Shu-jing Xiao

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  1. Xiao-bing Yang
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  2. Xiao-shu Chai
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  3. Wan-yin Wu
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  7. Wen-feng He
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Correspondence to Wan-yin Wu.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81273965, 81503507) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2015A030310245)

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Yang, Xb., Chai, Xs., Wu, Wy. et al. Gefitinib plus Fuzheng Kang’ai Formula (扶正抗癌方) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 24, 734–740 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2819-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2819-8

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