ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy plus fundamental treatment versus fundamental treatment alone for the prevention and treatment of bone marrow depression in breast cancer patients induced by FEC(fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy. Methods A total of 46 post-operation breast cancer patients accepting the first cycle of FEC chemotherapy were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 23 cases in each group. The control group was given fundamental treatment including oral use of Chinese medicine of modified Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction for regulating stomach and arresting vomiting, modified Guipi Decoction and Gui Lu Erxian Decoction for nourishing blood and generating blood, and western medicine of Batilol Tablets and Vitamin B4 Tablets. The treatment group was given acupoint catgut-embedding therapy on bilateral Zusanli(ST36) and Shenshu(BL23) plus fundamental treatment. The effect on bone marrow depression in the two groups was observed after treatment. Results(1) On post-chemotherapy day 7 and 8, the count of white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils (NE) in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group, the difference being significant(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).(2) The utilization of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) in the treatment group was less than that in the control group, the difference being significant (P < 0.05). (3) On post-chemotherapy day 10, the effect on improving bone marrow depression in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.01) . Conclusion The acupoint catgut-embedding therapy plus fundamental treatment is more effective and safe for the prevention and treatment of bone marrow depression in breast cancer patients induced by FEC chemotherapy than fundamental treatment alone.