Effect of Yiqi Xiaozheng granules on quality of life in patients with advanced malignant tumors

Hong SUN; Pingping LI; Yanzhi CHEN; Qingzhi GUO

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Progressive body mass losses and physical strength decrease are common complications of malignant tumors, and they are important factors that affect the quality of life of the patients.

OBJECTIVE:

To probe into the curative effect of a Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules combined with antitumor drugs in the treatment of malignant tumors and its effect on the quality of life.

DESIGN:

A randomized controlled observation.

SETTING:

Clinical Tumor College of Peking University.PARTICIPANT Totally 61 patients with malignant pulmonary carcinoma,breast or intestinal carcinoma hospitalized in the Wards of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Beijing Cancer Hospital from June 1999 to March 2002 were recruited.

METHODS:

Altogether 61 cases of malignant tumor were randomized into the treatment group (treated with Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy)(n=34) and the control group (treated with only chemotherapy was used)(n=27). The difference in curative effect, survival period with tumor and the quality of life of the two groups were observed. The comparison of the curative effects of the two groups was performed according to Clinical Curative Effect Criteria for Solid Tumors stipulated by World Health Organization completely response, partly response, stable disease, and progressive disease. X-ray examination was performed on the patients before the therapy and two courses of treatment after the therapy to evaluate the curative effect. Physical strength grading was made according to the evaluation criteria of Eastern Oneology Cooperative Group of the United States. The two groups were graded before and after the treatment. The group with decreased grade after the treatment was considered to be improving, but the group with increased grade after the treatment was considered to be worsening.symptom before and after therapyparison of the curative effect of the two groups The cure rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (partial response rate,stability rate and progression rate of the two groups was 36% ,7% ;52%,survival with tumors The mean period of survival with tumors of the treatment group was longer than that of the control group until March 2002ing Physical strength grading status was better after the therapy in the treatment group than that in the control group [ In the treatment group, 9cases (26%)were ameliorated, 25 (74%)appeared stable , none was aggravated; in the control group, 1 case (4%) was ameliorated, 25(93%) appeared of qi-deficiency symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine before and after the treatment between the two groups. Symptoms such as sweating and qi deficiency manifested as disclination to talk, listlessness, debility, etc. were significantly reduced in the treatment group (The numbers of cases before and after the treatment were 20, 9; 17,9; 20,13 respectively). In the control group, the cases either were stable or showed an increase in symptoms (There were 13, 13; 14, 17; 18, 20 respectively before and after treatment).

CONCLUSION:

Compared with the control group, in the treatment of malignant tumors, Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy not only enhanced curative effect, but also improved the quality of life and prolonged the period of survival with tumors.