title: [Clinical study of the effects of radiotherapy in combination with traditional Chinese medicine on non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two patients with NSCLC were randomly divided into combined treatment group (n=50) and radiotherapy group (n=42). The former group was given TCM in combination with radiotherapy, and the latter group received radiotherapy only. The adverse effects and quality-of-life (QOL) of all the patients were observed after the treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of adverse effects was much lower in combined treatment group than in radiotherapy group, and significantly greater improvement in QOL of the patients was observed in the former group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCM in the combined treatment for patients with NSCLC can reduce the adverse effects of radiotherapy, and improve the life quality of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Center, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Fang-Guo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Qing-Fen
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jing-Xia
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Rong-Cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal