title: Chinese herbal decoction based on syndrome differentiation as maintenance therapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: an exploratory and small prospective cohort study.
abstract: Objective. To investigate the treatment effect and treatment length of Chinese herbal decoction (CHD) as maintenance therapy on patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and to reflect the real syndrome differentiation (Bian Zheng) practices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Patients and Methods. Different CHDs were prescribed for each patient based on syndrome differentiation. The length of CHD treatment was divided into two phases for analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and postprogression survival (PPS). Results. Three hundred and fifty-seven CHDs were prescribed based on syndrome differentiation during the study period. Median PFS was significantly longer in patients who received CHD >3 months than patients who received CHD ≤3 months in the first phase (8.7 months versus 4.5 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41-0.99; P = 0.0009). Median PPS was significantly longer in patients who received CHD >7 months than patients who received CHD ≤7 months in the second phase (11.7 months versus 5.1 months; HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.90-2.74; P = 0.002). Conclusion. CHD could improve PFS and PPS, which are closely related to treatment time and deepness of response of first-line therapy. In addition, CHD could improve body function and keep patients in a relatively stable state.
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Liu
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors: Shu Lin
authors: SL
authors: He
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Yuan Chen
authors: YC
authors: Zhao
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Hong Gang
authors: HG
authors: Zheng
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Cong Huang
authors: CH
authors: Li
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Yan Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Bao
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Ying Gang
authors: YG
authors: Qin
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Hou
authors: Oncology Department of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Cancer Institute, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors: Bao Jin
authors: BJ
authors: Hua