Study on qi deficiency syndrome distribution and quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the qi deficiency syndrome distribution and quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire survey was conducted in 120 patients with advanced NSCLC using the QOL scale "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy" (FACT-L) (Version 4.0). Meanwhile, syndrome typing was performed. On the basis of results of syndrome typing, patients of different syndrome types were grouped and compared, thus studying the distribution of advanced NSCLC patients of qi deficiency syndrome and qi deficiency syndrome correlated QOL features.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Qi deficiency, blood stasis, yin deficiency, phlegm and dampness dominated in syndrome types of the 120 patients with advanced NSCLC. Of syndrome types accounting for larger ratios in 112 patients, pure qi deficiency syndrome accounted for 30.36% (34 cases), qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome for 18. 75% (21 cases), both qi and yin deficiency syndrome for 10. 71% (12 cases). There was no correlation between the appearance of qi deficiency syndrome and patients' age, sex, pathological typing (adenocarcinoma/squamous carcinoma), or the disease duration. NSCLC patients in phase IV were mostly complicated with qi deficiency syndrome (P<0.05). Scores of physical states, emotional states, functional states, and total scores in the FACT-L scale were lower in those complicated with qi deficiency syndrome (89 cases) than in those without complicated qi deficiency syndrome (31 cases), showing statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). The scores of the lung cancer specific module (additional concerns) in the FACT-L scale showed statistical difference, sequenced as qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome > pure qi deficiency syndrome > both qi and yin deficiency syndrome (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Qi deficiency syndrome is the main syndrome of advanced NSCLC. The QOL of advanced NSCLC patients complicated with qi deficiency syndrome was poorer than those without complicated qi deficiency syndrome. Besides, along with the aggravation of qi deficiency syndrome, the QOL decreased somewhat. It suggested that symptomatic treatment of qi deficiency syndrome could improve advanced NSCLC patients' QOL.</p>

Comparative study on the methods of Chinese medicine and Western medicine therapeutic evaluation for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences and characteristics in Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine therapeutic evaluation methods in the application of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 200 cases of advanced non-small cell lung cancer from 3 subcenters were enrolled the study and assigned to two groups, 104 in the CM group treated with CM injection combined with treatment based on syndrome differentiation, 96 in the chemotherapy group treated with the international chemothearapy scheme, both the course of treatment was 6 weeks. Their short-term therapeutic effects were observed by the "clinic efficacy appraisal standard of therapy for advanced lung cancer with CM" simultaneously and by the follow-up Western medical solid tumor's effect evaluation criterion, including clinical symptoms, tumor body, Karnorfsky score, body weight and immune function evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to WHO solid tumor's effect evaluation criterion, the efficacy of the chemotherapy group was much better than that of the CM group (P < 0.01). While, according to the "clinic efficacy appraisal standard of therapy for advanced lung cancer with CM", the efficacy of the CM group was better than that of the chemotherapy group without statistical difference (P = 0.05), however, there was a very strong trend of appearing difference. There was difference inult o the results of the two evaluation methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with WHO solid tumor's effect evaluation criterion, "the clinic efficacy appraisal standard of therapy for advanced lung cancer with CM" can reflect more features and advantages of CM for cancer treatment, having value for further study.</p>