title: [Efficacy of Yanshu injection (a compound Chinese traditional medicine) combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy in patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of Yanshu injection (a compound Chinese traditional medicine from Sophora flauescens Ait) combined with concomitant radiochemotherapy in patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomized into Yanshu group and control group (n = 30, each). Patients in the Yanshu group received Yanshu injection in addition to intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concomitant chemotherapy, and those in the control group were treated with IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year overall survival rates were 100%, 93.3%, 86.7%, 80.0% for Yanshu group, and 96.7%, 90.0%, 83.3%, 76.7% for the control group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.565). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year progression-free survival rates were 96.7%, 90.0%, 83.3%, 70.0% for Yanshu group, and 90.0%, 86.7%, 76.7%, 66.7% for control group, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.554). However, the reaction of mucosa of oral cavity, myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia in the Yanshu group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The quality of life of the patients in the Yanshu group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yanshu injection combined with radiochemotherapy in patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma show a good efficacy and can reduce the side effects of radiochemotherapy of nasopharygeal carcinoma, and improve the quality of life of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ding-yi
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wu-zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: You-yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Long-yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D052016:Mucositis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011788:Quality of Life; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects; D029909:Sophora / Q000737:chemistry; D015996:Survival Rate; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin