Chan KKL, Yao TJ, Jones B, Zhao JF, Ma FK, Leung CY, Lau SK, Yip MW, Ngan HYS. The use of Chinese herbal medicine to improve quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with immunological monitoring.
Ann Oncol 2011;
22:2241-9. [PMID:
21355071 DOI:
10.1093/annonc/mdq749]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in improving quality of life (QOL), reducing chemotoxicity and modulating immune function in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with ovarian cancer were randomized to receive either TCM or placebo in addition to standard chemotherapy. The primary outcome was global health status (GHS) score, assessed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire, while the secondary outcomes were other QOL items, chemotoxicity according to World Health Organization criteria and alterations in immune function as measured by immune cells count and the numbers of cytokines-secreting cells.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the GHS between the two groups. With adjustment for stage, chemotherapy type, disease status, age and baseline value, emotional function, cognitive function and nausea and vomiting were found to be worse or less improved in the TCM group compared with placebo group after six cycles of chemotherapy. The TCM group had less neutropenia after three cycles (0% grade 4 neutropenia versus 28.6%). There were no other significant differences in terms of chemotoxicity. Lymphocyte counts and cytokine activities decreased less in the TCM group.
CONCLUSIONS
TCM did not improve QOL but did have some effects in terms of maintaining immune function.
Collapse