%A Xuan Liu, Li-juan Xiu, Jian-peng Jiao, Jing Zhao, Ying Zhao, Ye Lu, Jun Shi, Yong-jin Li, Min Ye, Yu-fang Gu, Xiao-wei Wang, Jing-yu Xu, Ci-an Zhang, Yong-ying Liu, Yun Luo, Xiao-qiang Yue %T Traditional Chinese medicine integrated with chemotherapy for stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer: A retrospective clinical analysis %0 Journal Article %D 2017 %J Journal of Integrative Medicine %R 10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60377-7 %P 469-475 %V 15 %N 6 %U {http://www.jcimjournal.com/CN/abstract/article_2186.shtml} %8 2017-11-15 %X

Objective

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as an important treatment for gastric cancer patients, especially for those in advanced stage. To evaluate the effects of TCM treatment on gastric cancer patients, the authors performed a retrospective study to report the result of the integrated treatment of TCM with chemotherapy for stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.

Methods

In this study, 182 patients with stage IV and non-surgical gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effects of TCM integrated with chemotherapy. Among the 182 cases, 88 cases received integrated therapy consisting of TCM and chemotherapy, while 94 cases received chemotherapy alone. The overall survival and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were measured as the main outcome.

Results

The median overall survival of the integrated therapy group and chemotherapy group were 16.9 and 10.5 months, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of integrated therapy group vs. chemotherapy group were 70% vs. 32%, 18% vs. 4%, and 11% vs. 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 42.244, P < 0.001). After six-month treatment, KPS scores of the integrated therapy group and the chemotherapy group were 75.00 ± 14.78 and 60.64 ± 21.39, respectively (P < 0.001). The Cox regression analysis showed that TCM treatment is a protective factor for patients' overall survival.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that TCM integrated with chemotherapy may prolong overall survival and improve survival rate and life quality of patients with stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.