[Clinical observation on effect of chemotherapy combined with Chinese medicine in treating advanced tumor patients and on immunologic parameters].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of chemotherapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine (Spleen-Kidney tonifying) in treating advanced tumor patients and on immune parameters.


METHODS
One hundred and one advanced tumor patients were randomly divided into the treated group (54 patients) treated by Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy, and the control group (47 patients) treated by chemotherapy alone. After being treated for 8 weeks (2 treatment courses), the changes of tumor size, body weight, Karnofsky scores, immunologic parameters, peripheral blood cells, as well as the toxic and side-effects were also studied.


RESULTS
Improvement of various degree was obtained on the immunologic parameters such as CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, NK cells, and the quality of life, as Karnofsky score in the treated group, in comparing with those in the control group the difference was significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). But on behalf of the toxic and side-effects in advanced patients, there was no significant difference between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy combined with Chinese Spleen-Kidney tonifying drugs could improve the immunologic functions in the advanced tumor patients.
Jiang
C M
CM
Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022.
Pang
M R
MR
Gong
L Y
LY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016685:Mitomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine