摘要
Earthworm capsule is an extract from earthworm made in our laboratory.From1986 to 1989,486 patients with carcinoma of esophagus or lung were randomly divided into 2groups,one group received radiotherapy alone(control group)and the other radiotherapycombined with earthworm capsules(treatment group).All cases were diagnosedpathologically or cytologically.In a two-month treatment course,earthworm capsuleswere given orally twice a day,2～3 capsules each time,each capsule containing 60 mg ofthe extract.Compared with the control group,the CR(complete remission)rate andCR+PR(partial remission)rate in patients with carcinoma of esophagus treated byradiotherapy in combination with earthworm capsule increased 9.7%(P【0.01) and 9.6%(P【0.05),while in patients with carcinoma of lung,they increased 10.6%(P【0.05)and13.5%(P【0.05),respectively.The earthworm capsule caused irritation in the alimentarytract,the patients displaying slight nausea and vomiting(16.7% in thecombination treatment group and 10.0% in the control group).However,these side ef-fects could be alleviated when capsules were taken after meal or with honey concomitantly.No deleterious effects on the heart,liver,kidney,skin,hematopoietic or nervous systemwere seen.
Earthworm capsule is an extract from earthworm made in our laboratory.From 1986 to 1989,486 patients with carcinoma of esophagus or lung were randomly divided into 2 groups,one group received radiotherapy alone(control group)and the other radiotherapy combined with earthworm capsules(treatment group).All cases were diagnosed pathologically or cytologically.In a two-month treatment course,earthworm capsules were given orally twice a day,2～3 capsules each time,each capsule containing 60 mg of the extract.Compared with the control group,the CR(complete remission)rate and CR+PR(partial remission)rate in patients with carcinoma of esophagus treated by radiotherapy in combination with earthworm capsule increased 9.7%(P<0.01) and 9.6% (P<0.05),while in patients with carcinoma of lung,they increased 10.6%(P<0.05)and 13.5%(P<0.05),respectively.The earthworm capsule caused irritation in the alimentary tract,the patients displaying slight nausea and vomiting(16.7% in the combination treatment group and 10.0% in the control group).However,these side ef- fects could be alleviated when capsules were taken after meal or with honey concomitantly. No deleterious effects on the heart,liver,kidney,skin,hematopoietic or nervous system were seen.
