Chinese medicine for outcomes in colorectal cancer patients: A retrospective clinical study

Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Sep;23(9):648-653. doi: 10.1007/s11655-016-2581-3. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) on survival of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A total of 295 patients who received chemotherapy were assigned to Group 1. The other 171 patients received the same chemotherapy treatment combined with the usage of CM Jianpi Jiedu Formula (, JPJD) for more than 3 months (Group 2). Patients' survival time, relapse and metastasis, and cause of death were observed. Cox proportional hazard regression models were established for the analysis of the effect of independent factors on the survival prognosis of patients with CRC.

Results: The survival rate of patients in Group 2 was higher than that of Group 1 (P<0.05). Compared with Group 1, the mean survival time was prolonged by 5.594 months and the median survival time was prolonged by 6 months in Group 2 (P=0.004). Cox regression analysis indicated that CM combined with chemotherapy provided signifificant protective effect, as observed with the improvements in the survival rates of CRC patients (P<0.01).

Conclusion: CM can improve the survival rate in patients with stage II and III CRC.

Keywords: Chinese medicine; Jianpi Jiedu Formula; colorectal cancer; integrative medicine; survival period.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal