Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Survival and Quality of Life in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma after Esophagectomy

摘要

Objective: To explore the effect and possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on survival and quality of life (QOL) in patients with esophageal carcinoma after esophagectomy. Methods: Adopting prospective controlled method of study, the authors had 128 post-esophagectomy patients, hospitalized from February 2001 to February 2002, randomly divided into 3 groups: the TCM group, treated with TCM drugs alone; the chemotherapy group, with chemotherapy alone applied; and the synthetic group, treated with chemotherapy combined with Chinese medicine. Their survival rate and QOL were compared. Results: In the TCM group, the chemotherapy group and the synthetic group, the respective 3-year relapse and remote metastasis rate were 71.4% , 76.7%, 53.4%, respectively (χ~2 =6.53, P < 0.05); the 1 -year survival rate 42.9%, 46. 5 % , 72.1%; 2-year survival rate 28.6%, 27.9 % , 55. 8 % , and 3-year survival rate 26. 2%, 23. 1%, 37. 2%, respectively. And the QOL improving rate was 69. 0%, 37. 2%, 58. 1%, respectively, all showing significant difference among them (χ~2 =6. 10, all P < 0.05). Moreover, immune function was increased in the TCM and the synthetic groups. Conclusion: Integrative Chinese and Western medicinal treatment was the beneficial choice for post-operational patients with esophageal carcinoma. However, long time use of simple Chinese medicine was also advisable, especially for those in poverty.