The intervention studies of merely elevated serum tumor markers in advanced breast cancer ;posttreatment / 实用医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of early intervention of second-line treatment for advanced breast cancer patients who experienced elevated tumor marker without any evidence for progress on imaging after effective first-line treatment. Methods We recruited 42 metastatic breast cancer patients experiencing elevated tumor marker (CEA or CA-153) meanwhile, who had merely increased tumor markers again in regular review after effective first-line treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: 20 patients in treatment group were given second-line treatment (palliative chemotherapy); 22 patients in observation group insisted on regular follow-up without any changing of treatment strategy. We mainly evaluated PFSmarker , which was defined as the time between tumor markers increase and disease progression. Results CEA and CA-153 in patients with advanced breast cancer showed a tendency to decrease after first-line chemotherapy , which can be reduced again by second-line treatment while increased in regular review , and the observation group continued to rise until disease progressed. The PFSmarker in treatment group was 13.65 (6 ~ 24) months while that of the observation group was 8.18 (3 ~ 15) months. The difference of PFS between these two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05) and the median time to disease progression in treatment group was significantly longer than that in observation group. Conclusions Early intervention of second-line treatment for advanced breast cancer patients who only experienced elevated tumor marker after effective first-line treatment could slow down disease progression and improve the quality of life.

Moxa salt packets at Zhongwan (CV 12) for cisplatin chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal reac- tions: a clinical study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy between moxa salt packets at acupoints combined with tropisetron hydrochloride and single use of tropisetron hydrochloride for cisplatin chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal reaction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with malignant tumor who met inclusive criteria and received chemotherapy for the first time were recruited and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Between the first days and fifth day into the chemotherapy, the patients in the control group were treated with daily intravenous injection of tropisetron hydrochloride (5 mg), while patients in the observation group, based on the treatment of control group, were treated with moxa salt packets at Zhongwan (CV 12). The nausea and vomiting between the first days and fifth day into the chemotherapy were compared in the two groups, and the occurrence rates of adverse reactions within the first week into chemotherapy were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between the second day and fifth day into the chemotherapy, the effective rate for nausea in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); between the third day and fifth day into the chemotherapy, the effective rate for vomiting in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); one week into the chemotherapy, the occurrence rate of constipation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The moxa salt packets combined with tropisetron hydrochloride can effectively reduce the cisplatin chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as the occurrence rate of delayed-type vomiting, and improve the constipation, which is superior to single use of tropisetron hydrochloride.</p>

Therapeutic Observation of Salt-partitioned Moxibustion for Belching Due to Chemotherapy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of salt-partitioned moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV12) in treating belching due to chemotherapy.Method Subjects with chemotherapy-induced belching were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 in each group. The control group was intervened by intramuscular injection with Ritalin 20 mg, while the observation group was by salt-partitioned moxibustion at Zhongwan for 30 min in addition to the intramuscular injection.Result The total effective rate was 93.3% in the observation group versus 76.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05); the action latency in the observation group was (1.7±1.8)min in the observation group versus (15.6±4.2)min, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion Salt-partitioned moxibustion at Zhongwan is significantly effective in treating chemotherapy-induced belching, and it’s easy-to-operate, efficient, and safe.