Effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 on postoperative life span of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 (Shenyi Capsule) on the postoperative life span of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
The prospective, randomized, controlled method was adopted. One hundred and thirty-three patients with NSCLC were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Shenyi Capsule group (43 cases), combined therapy group (Shenyi Capsule plus chemotherapy, 46 cases), and chemotherapy group (44 cases). The survival rates, immune function and the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinical effect were analyzed in the three groups.


RESULTS
(1) The 1-year survival rate in the Shenyi group, the combined group and the chemotherapy group was 76.7% (33/43), 82.6% (38/46), and 79.5% (35/44), respectively; the 2-year survival rate was 67.4% (29/43), 71.7% (33/46), and 70.5% (31/44), respectively; and the 3-year survival rate was 46.5% (20/43), 54.3% (25/46), and 47.7% (21/44), respectively. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups (P>0.05). (2) NK cells were increased to different degrees and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was normal in the Shenyi Capsule group and the combined group, while the ratio of CD4/CD8 was disproportional in the chemotherapy group. (3) In the chemotherapy group, the 3-year survival rate was lower in patients with positive expression of VEGF than in patients with negative expression (37.0% vs 64.7%, chi2=17.9, P<0.01), but no signifi cant statistical difference was shown in the other two groups (53.6% vs 55.6%, P>0.05; 44.4% vs 50.0%, P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Shenyi Capsule, especially in combination with chemotherapy, can improve the life span of patients with NSCLC after operation. The mechanism might be correlated with improving the immune function and anti-tumor angiogenesis
Lu
Ping
P
Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. luping@csco.org.cn
Su
Wei
W
Miao
Zhan-hui
ZH
Niu
Hong-rui
HR
Liu
Jing
J
Hua
Qin-liang
QL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D036145:Ginsenosides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3