Effect of Feitai Capsule () on quality of life and progression-free survival of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of a Chinese medicinal herbal formula (Feitai Capsule, ) on the quality of life (QOL) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (31 cases) and the control group (31 cases). For the treatment group, 4 capsules (1.2 g/capsule) of Feitai Capsule were administered 3 times a day after meals for 3 weeks; then no drug was administered for 1 week. This schedule was continued for at least 3 more cycles (12 weeks totally). If there were no obvious toxic reactions, the treatment was extended. The patients were evaluated at least once every 8 weeks until progressive disease (PD). For the control group, the regular follow-up and evaluation were performed at least once every 8 weeks until PD. Clinical symptoms, objective response, physical constitution and energy, QOL, and PFS were evaluated regularly. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), a non-parametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and QOL. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the two-group PFS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty patients finished the final evaluation, with 30 patients in each group. Baseline characters between groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). The control group had a 36.7% improvement in clinical symptoms, while the treatment group had a 73.3% improvement. This difference was statistically significant (Z= -2.632, P=0.008). The control group had a 26.7% improvement in the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), while the treatment group had a 53.4% improvement. This was also significantly different (Z=-2.182, P=0.029). A comparative analysis indicated a positive correlation (r=0.917, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, QOL in the treatment group was significantly improved, except in the social/family condition and doctor-patient relationship indicators. The PFS of the treatment group and control group were 6.23 months and 4.67 months, respectively (P=0.048).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Feitai Capsule, a Chinese medicinal herbal treatment could improve the QOL and extend the PFS of the unresectable NSCLC patients.</p>

Relationship between cell apoptosis and dephosphorylated RB protein in human breast cancer / 中国癌症杂志

Purpose:To investigate the relationship between cell apoptosis and dephosphorylated RB protein in human breast cancer. Methods:In our work,human breast cell lines (MCF-7/S,the chemosensitive cell line and MCF-7/ADR,the chemoresistent cell line)were evaluated. Chemosensitivity of two cell lines was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric assay;the expressive levels of dephosphorylated RB protein were detected with immunocytochemistry. Apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry(FCM). Results:ADR inhibited proliferation of chemosensitive cell line MCF-7/S ,the 50% inhibition concentration (IC 50 ) was 0.128 ?g/ml;And IC 50 of MCF-7/ADR was 10.89 ?g/ml. The chemotherapeutic sensitivity of MCF-7/S was more than that of MCF-7/ADR by 86 times . Before treatment with ADR,phosphorylated RB protein was positive in two cell lines,but dephosphorylated RB protein was negative;After treatment of different concentration ADR,when the concentration of ADR was increased,expression of dephosphorylated RB protein elevated accordingly in MCF-7/S,but no significant change in MCF-7/ADR. Apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by FCM assays shows ADR induced apoptosis of MCF-7/S more than MCF-7/ADR(P0.05).