Effectiveness of 3-week intervention of Shi Quan Da Bu Tang for alleviating hematotoxicity among patients with breast carcinoma receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Although Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (SQDBT) has been used to treat cancer patients clinically, very few studies evaluating the effectiveness of SQDBT using objective indicators have been published. The study objectives were to examine the effectiveness of SQDBT for alleviating hematotoxicity, as indicated by white blood cell (WBC) counts and hemoglobin (Hb) levels, among patients with breast carcinoma receiving chemotherapy.


METHODS
The authors identified patients with breast carcinoma who received chemotherapy in a teaching hospital in Taipei in 2008 through a chart review process. Only patients with initial WBC counts of <4000/µL were included. The case group was composed of 47 chemotherapy courses treated with SQDBT, whereas the comparison group included 257 courses without SQDBT. The complete blood count test was done before start of a chemotherapy course and 1 week after chemotherapeutic drugs were given.


RESULTS
Age, cancer stage, cancer status, use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and chemotherapy drugs were controlled in the model. Patients who took SQDBT had significantly increased WBC counts, especially neutrophils, and Hb after chemotherapy (adjusted β = 1202.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 440.45-1964.57 for WBC; β = 834.83, 95% CI = 197.35-1472.31 for neutrophils; β = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.05-0.63 for Hb). There were no significant differences in tumor markers CEA and CA153 between patients given SQDBT or not after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
SQDBT is effective in alleviating hematotoxicity among patients with breast carcinoma receiving chemotherapy, without affecting the presentation of tumor markers in the short term. More study is needed to determine long-term outcomes such as recurrence and survival.
Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Sheng-Miauh
SM
Huang
Li-Yin
LY
Chien
Cheng-Jeng
CJ
Tai
Jeng-Fong
JF
Chiou
Ching-Shyang
CS
Chen
Chen-Jei
CJ
Tai
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006454:Hemoglobins; C063587:juzentaihoto