[Effect of ganji recipe combined with Fructus Bruceae oil emulsion intervention on quality of life in patients with advanced primary hepatic cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe and compare the quality of life (QOL) and survival time in patients with advanced primary hepatic cancer (PHC) after they have been treated by the combination of ganji recipe and interventional therapy with Fructus Bruceae Oil Emulsion (FBE) or by the trans-hepatic arterial chemical embolization (TACE) adopting Seldinger's technique.


METHODS
Seventy-seven patients with advanced PHC were randomly assigned to two groups, 37 patients in the control group treated with TACE alone, and 40 in the treatment group with the combined therapy. One therapeutic course was 4 weeks, and the intervention therapy was repeated generally after an interval of 4-6 weeks according to patients'condition ,the average intervention frequency was 2.3 for one case. The QOL and the survival time in patients were evaluated after treatment.


RESULTS
Significant difference was shown in the changes of the Karnofsky score between the two groups (P < 0.05). The scores suggested that the improvements in the treatment group, including patients'physical energy enhancing, symptoms alleviating and overall QOL improving, were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference of the 3-month survival rate between the two groups was found (P > 0.05), but the 0.5- and 1-year survival rate were significantly superior in the treatment group to those in the control group (67.6% vs. 42.4% and 38.2% vs. 16.1%, respectively). The median survival time in the two groups was 8.9 and 5.3 months respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination of ganji recipe and interventional therapy with FBE in treating PHC could improve patients' QOL, raise the 0.5- and 1-year survival rate, and prolong the survival time, suggesting TCM treatment has an affirmative significance for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and improving the prognosis in patients.
Wang
Bin
B
Department of Oncology, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong. wangbin_19792003@yahoo.com.cn
Tian
Hua-qin
HQ
Liang
Gui-wen
GW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D032269:Brucea / Q000737:chemistry*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011788:Quality of Life; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010938:Plant Oils