Clinical studies of immunomodulatory activities of Yunzhi-Danshen in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent tumor in Hong Kong. The immune system of such patients could be adversely affected during the course of conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Yunzhi-Danshen capsules in NPC patients treated with radiotherapy.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 16-week study.


METHODS
The Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Twenty-seven (27) patients with histologically proven NPC, at least 18 years of age.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with histologically proven NPC were recruited to take Yunzhi (3.6 g daily) and Dangshem (1.4 g daily) in the form of 12 combination capsules (TCM group) or placebo (12 capsules) daily for 16 weeks, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to assess the percentages and absolute counts of human lymphocyte subsets in whole blood. Plasma concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ex vivo production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 in the whole blood assay culture supernatant was measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The decreases in percentage and absolute count of T lymphocytes in the TCM group were less than those in the placebo group after they took the capsules for 16 weeks (both p < 0.05). Furthermore, the decreases in absolute count of T suppressor cells plus cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and T helper cells in the TCM group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group after they took the capsules for 16 weeks (both p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Yunzhi-Danshen can exert an immunomodulating effect in alleviating lymphopenia during radiotherapy in NPC patients.
Bao
Yi Xi
YX
Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Wong
Chun Kwok
CK
Leung
Sing Fai
SF
Chan
Anthony Tak Cheung
AT
Li
Pok Wai
PW
Wong
Eliza Lai Yi
EL
Leung
Ping Chung
PC
Fung
Kwok Pui
KP
Yin
Yi Bing
YB
Lam
Christopher Wai Kei
CW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002214:Capsules; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010618:Phenanthrolines; C028972:dan-shen root extract