Effect of Wuye Decoction on lymphocyte phenotype in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of Chinese recipe, Wuye Decoction (WYD), on immune function in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Eighty-two patients of NSCLC with pathologically confirmed diagnosis, who had received operative treatment and completed the post-operational chemotherapy, were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Group A (42 cases) received WYD and Group B (40 cases) received no specific medicine. Positive rate of various peripheral lymphocyte subsets, including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and CD25, in both groups was observed immediately after chemotherapy (T(0)) and 3 months later (T(1)), the same indexes of 20 healthy volunteers allocated in Group C were also determined at T(0) for control.


RESULTS
The positive rates of CD4, CD4/CD8, CD16, CD19 and CD25 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) while that of CD8 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Group A and B at T(0) than those in Group C; at T(1), these indexes, except CD25, got significantly restored in Group A with the level approaching normal range (P > 0.05), and showed significant difference from those in Group B (P < 0.05), since these indexes in that group remained unchanged at the corresponding period. As for CD25, it was insignificantly changed in Group A after WYD treatment, and thus, at T(1), it was still lower than that in Group C (P < 0.05) and showed insignificant difference as compared with that in Group B (P > 0.05). Comparison of CD3 among the 3 groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
WYD could activate the immune function of NSCLC patients, and so it is recommended to be used in the treatment of NSCLC in clinical practice.
Zheng
Shun-li
SL
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. zsurely@hotmail.com
Yang
Qing-sheng
QS
Ma
Xiao-hong
XH
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C516450:wuye decoction