ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Huqi Zhengxiao Formula （槲芪癥消方） on the survival rate and quality of life of patients with stage Ⅲ hepatitis B-associated primary liver cancer （PLC） with syndrome of healthy qi deficiency and toxic stasis accumulation after transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation （TACE） treatment. MethodsOne hundred and twenty-six patients with stage Ⅲ hepatitis B-associated PLC who were identified as syndrome of healthy qi deficiency and toxic stasis accumulation after TACE treatment were selected， and were randomly assigned to 63 cases each of the treatment group and the control group in a ratio of 1∶1 by using the random number table method； the control group was given symptomatic supportive treatments with western internal medicine， and the treatment group was given the addition of Huqi Zhengxiao Formula on the basis of the control group. All patients were treated for a period of 48 weeks， and were followed up at weeks 4， 8， 12， 24， 36， and 48 of the treatment process. The primary effectiveness index was the 1-year survival rate， and the secondary effectiveness index was the Karnofsky score and the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-meier method， and Log-rank test was used to compare the differences between the survival curves of each group. ResultsSix withdrawals in the treatment group and seven withdrawals in the control group， and finally 57 patients in the test group and 56 patients in the control group were included in the statistical analysis. The 1-year survival rate of patients in the treatment group was 56.1% （32/57）， which was higher than that of 33.9% （19/56） in the control group （P = 0.033）. The mean survival time was （275.30±15.50） days in the treatment group， higher than （227.16±17.11） days in the control group （P = 0.039）. Thirty-two patients in the treatment group and 19 patients in the control group completed the Karnofsky score and TCM symptom score at each time point. At weeks 4， 8， 12 and 36， the difference in the Karnofsky score between the two groups was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）； at weeks 24 and 48， the Karnofsky score in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group at the same time point （P＜0.05）； analysis of variance of repeated measurements found that the downward trend of the Karnofsky score in the treatment group was slower than that in the control group （F = 4.47， P = 0.037）. The difference between the TCM symptom scores of the two groups at each follow-up observation point was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）； there was a tendency for the TCM symptom scores of the two groups to increase， but the ANOVA of repeated measurements found that the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant either （F = 0.31， P = 0.58）. Concusion The oral administration of Huqi Zhengxiao Formula can improve the survival rate， prolong the survival time， and improve the quality of life of patients with stage Ⅲ hepatitis B-associated PLC with syndrome of healthy qi deficiency and toxic stasis accumulations after TACE treatment.
ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicine attaches great importance to the health Qi in the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors and emphasizes the concept of "harmonizing yin and yang until a balance is reached". Professor Liu Jiaxiang has established an academic system of "strengthening the health Qi to treat cancer" characterized by "putting people first" and "protecting the health Qi", emphasizing the regulation of the body's internal resistance (including immunity) to prevent and treat malignant tumors. The tumor immunotherapy has been proven effective in the field of pan-cancer and is considered as the most possible cure for cancer. This article deeply studies the scientific connotation of "health Qi" of human body and its role in tumor pathogenesis from the perspective of tumor immunology, which will promote the mutual promotion and integration of traditional Chinese medicine and oncology, and further improve the efficiency of prevention and control of malignant tumors in China through the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.