A clinical comparative study on Traditional Chinese Medicine serving as consolidation treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) is recognized in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of TCM serving as consolidation treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty-two patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were divided into two arms.Arm A(observation arm):81 cases,TCM serving as consolidation treatment after conventional treatment;Arm B(control arm):81 cases,only conventional treatment,no TCM serving as consolidation treatment.The TCM was given according mainly to the syndrome differentiation.Four types were found in the arm A:lung and spleen-qi deficiency type,the lung heat and phlegm-dampness type,the lung-yin and stomach-yin deficiency type,and the qi stagnation with blood stasis type.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1-,2-,3-and 5-year survival rate accounted for 70.3%,37.0%,20.9% and 8.6% in arm A,and 61.7%,20.9%,8.6% and 3.7% in arm B,respectively.Median survival time was 18 months in arm A and 12 months in arm B,respectively.Statistically,2-and 3-year survival rate of arm A and arm B had significant difference(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TCM serving as consolidation treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer might be closely related to 2-and 3-year survival rate and median survival time improvement,but not to 5-year survival rate.</p>

Evaluation on survival in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for multimodality treatment with or without operation / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>It is uncertain that the effect of multimodality treatment with operation on survival for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of multimodality treatment with or without operation on survival for locally advanced NSCLC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 1992 to May 1999, 114 patients with locally advanced NSCLC were divided into two arms. Arm A (n=56): 39 cases were at stage IIIA, and 17 at stage IIIB; Median KPS was 80 (range from 70 to 90 ); Multimodality treatment program included operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and traditional Chinese herb medicine. Of them, lobectomy plus mediastinal systematic lymph node dissection or lymph node sampling accounted for 49 cases, sleeve lobectomy plus mediastinal lymph node dissection for 5 cases, and pneumonectomy for 2 cases. Preoperative or adjuvant chemotherapy regimens included MVP (mitomycin C, vindesine, cisplatin), NP (vinorelbine, cisplatin), TC (paclitaxel, carboplatin), GP (gemcitabine, cisplatin), which were repeated every 4 weeks for 4-6 cycles. Total dose of radiotherapy for lesions in the lung or mediastinal field was 5000-6000cGy. Arm B (n=58): 23 cases were at stage IIIA, and 35 at stage IIIB; Median KPS was 70 (range from 60 to 90); Treatment program was the same approximately as arm A except for no operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Arm A: (1) Metastatic locations in follow-up, in turn, showed as: lymph node, pleural-lung, bone, brain, liver, pericardium, skin and adrenal; (2) Median survival was 27 months, and 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rate was 82.1%, 60.7% and 25.0% respectively. Arm B: (1) Metastatic locations in follow-up, in turn, showed as: lymph node, pleural-lung, bone, brain, liver, pericardium, skin, adrenal, pancreatic and esophageal metastasis; (2) Median survival was 13 months, and 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rate was 53.4%, 31.0% and 1.7% respectively. Median survival duration of Arm A was significantly superior to Arm B (P=0.0001). There were significant differences in 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rate between the two groups (Chi-Square=9.4, P < 0.01; Chi-Square=8.9, P < 0.01;Chi-Square=11.5, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with non-operative multimodality treatment, operative multimodality treatment including lobectomy or pneumonectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection can remarkably improve the survival in patients with locally advanced NSCLC.</p>

Diagnostic value of multiple tumor marker protein biochip detective system for lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To evaluate the diagnostic values of multiple tumor marker protein biochip detective system for lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum levels of 12 tumor markers, including CA199, NSE, CEA, CA242, CA125, CA153, AFP, ferritin, free-PSA, PSA, β-HCG and HGH, were measured in 108 lung cancer patients, 48 patients with benign pulmonary lesion and 145 healthy by the detective system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rates were 83.33% (90/108), 52.08% (25/48) and 28.97% (42/145) in lung cancer, benign pulmonary lesion and healthy groups, respectively. The lung cancer group had significantly higher positive rate than that of the controls (Chi-Square=16.75 and 73.32, both P < 0.001); There was significant difference of positive rate in various clinical stages of lung cancer (Chi-Square=7.89, P=0.048), but not in different pathologic classification. Serum CA199, CEA and CA242 levels were closely correlated with clinical staging (F=2.84, P=0.041; F= 3.49, P=0.018; F =5.22, P=0.002). The positive rate of CEA in adenocarcinoma was higher, but no significant difference was observed (Chi-Square=0.71, P=0.07). NSE in small cell lung cancer had the highest positive rate (Chi-Square=19.03, P < 0.001). Combined measurement of the twelve markers had higher sensitivity (Chi-Square= 368.58, P < 0.001), but less specificity (Chi-Square= 369.87, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combined measurement of various serum tumor markers using protein biochip can significantly increase the diagnostic sensitivity for lung cancer. Meanwhile, it is also significant for defining clinical stage, identificating pathologic classification, as well as monitoring therapeutic efficacy. As its specificity and positive predictive value are lower, it is more suitable to be used as a surveying tool for symptomless people, especially for high risk people for lung cancer.</p>

Cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To elucidate the pattern and mechanism of cisplatin-induced apoptosis and its role in tumor chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Apoptosis induced by cisplatin in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was detected by cell morphology, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA-end-labeling and flow cytometry analysis techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cisplatin-induced apoptosis of A549 cells persisted and augmented gradually from 12 to 72 hours after treated with 3 mg/L cisplatin. All of A549 cells treated respectively with 1, 3, 5 and 7 mg/L cisplatin showed apoptosis. Apoptotic effects increased in a time-dependent pattern and a concentration-dependent pattern. A549 cells were blocked in G1 phase after treated with cisplatin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Induction of cell apoptosis may be an important mechanism of anti-tumor efficacy of cisplatin.</p>

Chemotherapy combined with radiosurgery in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To ascertain the effect of chemotherapy combined with radiosurgery therapy on the brain metastasis of lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis who received radiosurgery and chemotherapy were prospectively observed. Main parameters of treatment program included:(1)brain tumor size range from 1.9 to 26.2m³; (2)median iso-center numbers being 3 (1-7); (3)margin dose being 13.6-22.0 Gy. Chemotherapy regimen consisted of Teniposide (VM26), CCNU and carboplatin (CBP), with VM-26 100mg IV d1-3, CCNU 80mg po d1 and CBP 300mg/m² IV d1, repeated every 4 weeks for 2-4 cycles (CCNU used only in cycle 1 and 3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)Major neurological improvement rate was 87.0%; (2)Objective response rate of brain lesions was 58.3%; (3)Relapse rate of new lesions of the brain metastasis during 3-6 months after radiosurgical treatment was 70.8%; (4)Median survival duration was 10 months (range from 3 to 34 months); (5)l-year survival rate was 37.5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1)Chemotherapy combined with radiosurgery in the treatment of brain metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer might be an effective regimen with modest side effect; (2)Relapsing and new lesions in the brain can not be controlled with this treatment.</p>

Studies on the antioxidative activities of extracts from Undaria pinnatifida in vitro / 中国海洋药物

Objective The antioxidative activities of extracts from Undaria pinnatifida in vitrowere tested. Methods Using the assay system of peroxide value (POV), diphenyl picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), the antioxidative activities of various extracts were studied and comparedwith VE and VC. Results Different extracts from Undaria pinnatifida showed antioxidativeactivities, and petroleum ether extract showed the highest free radical scavenging efficiency.Conclusion petroleum ether extract has stronger antioxidative effect than others.