Effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 on postoperative life span of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective： To explore the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 （Shenyi Capsule, 参一胶囊） on the postoperative life span of patients with non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： The prospective, randomized, controlled method was adopted. One hundred and thirty- three patients with NSCLC were randomly assigned to 3 groups： Shenyi Capsule group （43 cases）, combined therapy group （Shenyi Capsule plus chemotherapy, 46 cases）, and chemotherapy group （44 cases）. The survival rates, immune function and the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） expression and clinical effect were analyzed in the three groups. Results： （1） The 1-year survival rate in the Shenyi group, the combined group and the chemotherapy group was 76.7% （33/43）, 82.6% （38/46）, and 79.5% （35/44）, respectively; the 2-year survival rate was 67.4% （29/43）, 71.7% （33/46）, and 70.5% （31/44）, respectively; and the 3-year survival rate was 46.5% （20/43）, 54.3% （25/46）, and 47.7% （21/44）, respectively. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups （P〉0.05）. （2） NK cells were increased to different degrees and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was normal in the Shenyi Capsule group and the combined group, while the ratio of CD4/CD8 was disproportional in the chemotherapy group. （3） In the chemotherapy group, the 3-year survival rate was lower in patients with positive expression of VEGF than in patients with negative expression （37.0% vs 64.7%, χ^2=17.9, P〈0.01）, but no significant statistical difference was shown in the other two groups （53.6% vs 55.6%, P〉0.05; 44.4% vs 50.0%, P〉0.05）. Conclusion： Shenyi Capsule, especially in combination with chemotherapy, can improve the life span of patients with NSCLC after operation. The mechanism might be correlated with improving the immune function and anti-tumor angiogenesis.