Effect of a modified Banxia Xiexin decoction plus chemotherapy on stage Ⅲ colon cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a modified Banxia Xiexin decoction(MBXD) plus chemotherapy on postoperative adverse reaction in patients with stage Ⅲ colon cancer in patients whose symptoms were identified as cold-heat complicated pattern in terms of the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).METHODS: A prospective non-randomized control study of patients with stage Ⅲ colon cancer in Beijing Shijitan Hospital and Guang'anmen Hospital between January 2012 and December 2013. A total of 80 patients were divided into experimental group(MBXD + chemotherapy) and control group(chemotherapy). The adverse reactions, life quality and disease-free survival(DFS) were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The cold-heat complex pattern was released in 94.3% of patients in experimental group whereas 62.2% in control group(P < 0.05). Life quality was improved in 24 vs 14 cases, stabilized in 9 vs14 cases whereas decreased in 2 vs 15 cases in experimental group and control group, respectively(P < 0.05). The average DFS was 22.371 months in experimental group, while 13.932 months in control group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: MBXD combined with chemotherapy may significantly relieve clinical symptoms, reduce chemotherapy associated adverse effects, improve life quality, and prolong DFS of patients with stage Ⅲ colon cancer(cold-heat complicated pattern).