[Effect of astragalus injection combined with chemotherapy on quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) combined with chemotherapy on quality of life (QOF) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung caner (NSCLC).


METHODS
Sixty-NSCLC patients were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 30, treated with AI combined with chemotherapy) and the control group (n = 30, treated with chemotherapy alone). Chemotherapy of MVP protocol was applied to both groups. AI was supplemented to the treated group by intravenous dripping 60 ml per day. Treatment of 21-28 days as one treatment cycle, and 2-3 treatment cycles were applied.


RESULTS
The effective rate in the treated group was 40.0% and in the control group was 36.7%, the mean remission rate in the treated and control group was 5.4 months and 3.3 months, the median survival period 11 months and 7 months, and the 1-year survival rate 46.75% and 30.0%, respectively, the differences of these indexes between the two groups were all significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, the clinical improving rate and QOF elevation rate in the treated group was 80.4% and 43.3%, as compared with those in the control group (50.0% and 23.3% respectively), the difference was also significant (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
AI combined with chemotherapy can significantly improve the QOF in NSCLC patients of advanced stage.
Zou
Yu-he
YH
Jiangmen Central Hospital, Guangdong 529071.
Liu
Xue-mei
XM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008937:Mitomycins; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin