title: Efficacy and safety of Rhus verniciflua stokes extracts in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have modest survival benefits but high toxicity. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS), the lacquer tree, is an ancient traditional medicine being used for the treatment of cancer. We investigated the efficacy and safety of allergen-removed RVS extract (aRVS) for the prolongation of survival in NSCLC after the failure of first-line or second-line chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 40 patients who were treated with aRVS for previously treated, advanced NSCLC at the M×μ Integrative Cancer Center, Korea, between June 2006 and June 2009. The primary objective of this study was to assess overall survival. Secondary objectives included assessments of disease control rates, progression-free survival, and the safety of aRVS treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival time was 8.4 months with a 1-year survival of 40%. The disease control rate was 63.6%, and the median progression-free survival interval was 3.9 months. Patients who had better performance status and adenocarcinoma experienced more favorable outcomes in terms of overall survival. in aRVS treatment were negligible, with the most common drug-related adverse events being mild epigastric pain and itching skin. Hematologic toxicity was absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survival data and favorable levels of tolerability suggest the potential of aRVS treatment in previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC. Treatment with aRVS might be a viable alternative in patients for whom chemotherapy is not feasible, or who refuse chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, M×μ Integrative Cancer Center, East West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Kyung Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sehyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Won Cheol
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Wan Kyu
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Eo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D029045:Rhus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts