Clinical Results in the Treatment of 38 Patients of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with gan lu fu zheng soup plus Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Objective: A randomized trial was performed to evaluate the contribution of gan lu fu zheng soup with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CT/RT) in the patients with histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma with local metastasis to lymph nodes. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated either with gan lu fu zheng soup alongside with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (TCM/CT/RT group) or with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CT/RT group) alone. All patients in the two groups were treated with a uniform definitive-intent radiation therapy and chemotherapy, while those patients in the TCM/CT/RT group were treated with extra gan lu fu zheng soup. Results: From 1999 to 2002, 68 patients (38 in TCM/CT/RT, 30 in CT/RT group) were enrolled and eligible. The rates of complete resolution of nasopharyngeal tumors in the treatment group and the control group were respectively, 94.7% and 90%; the rates of complete resolution of cervical lymph node metastases were respectively, 92.1% and 83%; the resolution rates of nasopharyngeal foci examined by CT were respectively, 73.6% and 63.3%; and the total survival rates of one year were respectively, 100.0% and 96.7% (P > 0.05). Changes in clinical symptoms: the total amelioration rates of the two groups were respectively, 97.4% and 76.7%; changes in life quality: the amelioration rates of the two groups were respectively, 89.5% and 66.7%; toxic and side reactions: in comparison with the control group, the treatment group were also distinctly relieved from leukopenia, nausea and vomiting, toxic and side reaction of oral mucosa. Through statistic analysis, the differences are of significances (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma with gan lu fu zheng soup in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is helpful to increase the rates of tumor resolution and complete resolution, to protect immunocompetence of organism, to promote the amelioration of clinical symptoms, to alleviate the toxic and side reaction of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, to increase life quality and prolong survival time, which provides an effective auxiliary means for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.