title: Effect of rikkunshi-to treatment on chemotherapy-induced appetite loss in patients with lung cancer: A prospective study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rikkunshi-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on post-chemotherapeutic appetite loss. Patients with unresectable lung cancer, who were treated with carboplatin (CBDCA)-containing, cisplatin (CDDP)-containing or non-platinum chemotherapy between 2011 and 2014, were recruited for the prospective study. For each course of chemotherapy, the patients were randomized into two groups, with or without a rikkunshi-to prescription. In patients treated with CBDCA-containing chemotherapy, food intake at day 7 following the initiation of chemotherapy in the rikkunshi-to treatment group was significantly higher compared with the group not treated with rikkunshi-to (P=0.0078). However, a significant improvement in food intake with rikkunshi-to treatment was not observed in the CDDP-containing and non-platinum chemotherapy groups. An improved assessment of the incidence rate of chemotherapy-induced appetite loss is essential for achieving adequate control. The results of the present study indicated the possibility of the clinical application of rikkunshi-to for improving post-chemotherapeutic appetite loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oteki
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kagohashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurishima
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
keywords: appetite loss; chemotherapy; herbal medicine; rikkunshi-to