Clinical observation on treatment of 34 advanced gastric carcinoma patients by chemotherapy of DCF regimen combined with Fuzheng Hewei Decoction / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic and adverse reactions of integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) for treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were randomized into two groups. Patients in the treatment group (34 patients) received chemotherapy of DCF (docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil) regimen combined with Chinese herbal medicine, and patients in the control group (32 patients) were treated with chemotherapy of the same regimen alone.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference between the two groups was found in response rate (55.9% versus 50.0%), clinical benefiting rate (85.3% versus 81.3%) and half year survival rate (82.4% versus 65.6%); but the 1-year survival rate in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (52.9% versus 25.0% , P < 0.05). As for the adverse reactions, significant difference between the two groups was shown in incidence of leucopenia, nausea and vomiting, mucosa reaction and fatigue, these reactions occurred lesser in the treatment group (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although treatment of ICWM for advanced gastric carcinoma cannot improve response rate, it could alleviate the adverse reactions of the treatment, improve quality of life and prolong the survival rate in patients.</p>