Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Survival and Quality of Life in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma after Esophagectomy

Objective： To explore the effect and possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） on survival and quality of life （QOL） in patients with esophageal carcinoma after esophagectomy. Methods： Adopting prospective controlled method of study, the authors had 128 post-esophagectomy patients, hospitalized from February 2001 to February 2002, randomly divided into 3 groups： the TCM group, treated with TCM drugs alone; the chemotherapy group, with chemotherapy alone applied; and the synthetic group, treated with chemotherapy combined with Chinese medicine. Their survival rate and QOL were compared. Results： In the TOM group, the chemotherapy group and the synthetic group, the respective 3-year relapse and remote metastasis rate were 71.4%, 76.7%, 53.4%, respectively （X2 =6.53, P^0.05） ; the 1-year survival rate 42.9%, 46.5%, 72.1% ; 2-year survival rate 28.6%, 27.9%, 55.8%, and 3-year survival rate 26.2%, 23. 1%, 37. 2%, respectively. And the QOL improving rate was 69. 0%, 37. 2%, 58.1%, respectively, all showing significant difference among them （X^2 =6. 10, all P〈0.05）. Moreover, immune function was increased in the TCM and the synthetic groups. Conclusion： Integrative Chinese and Western medicinal treatment was the beneficial choice for post-operational patients with esophageal carcinoma. However, long time use of simple Chinese medicine was also advisable, especially for those in poverty.

Prognostic analysis of transarterial chemoembolization combined with a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Transarterial chemoembolization （TACE） is the most widely used primary treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） due to its survival benefit, though its clinical effect is still far from satisfactory. Jiedufang （JDF） granule preparation is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine formula for HCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined therapy with TACE and JDF granule preparation in treatment of unresectable HCC on survival. Methods A retrospective study of TACE was performed in 165 patients with unresectable HCC who were admitted between January 2002 and December 2007 in Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China. Of the 165 patients, 80 patients （study group） received combined therapy consisting of TACE and a long-term maintenance treatment with oral JDF granule preparation, and the remaining 85 patients （control group） received TACE alone. The survival rates of both groups were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors possibly affecting survival were assessed by multivariate analysis in the Cox proportional hazard model, such as maximum tumor size, number of lesions, portal vein invasion, and etc. Results The median overall survival was 9.2 months （95% CI： 6.94-11.46） in the study group versus 5.87 months （95% CI： 4.21-7.52） in the control group. In the study group,survival rates of the 1-, 2- and 3-year follow-up were 41.2%, 18.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. Significant independent prognostic factors identified by the Cox regression analysis were as follows： serum hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg） （P=0.014）, maximum tumor size （P=0.027）, number of lesions （P 〈0.001）, portal vein invasion （P 〈0.001）, and the therapy model （P=-0.006）. Conclusion Combination therapy of TACE and JDF granule preparation may significantly prolong survival of patients with unresectable HCC.