Background: Recently the maintenance therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who completed required treatment cycles has caused widespread interests in the medical field. Traditional Chinese medicine may be a useful complement in maintenance treatment of mid-to-late stage NSCLC.
Objective: To observe the effects of Feitai Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for expelling blood stasis and phlegm, on the quality of life of the NSCLC patients as a maintenance treatment.
Design, setting, participants and interventions: A total of 62 mid-to-late stage NSCLC patients from Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region were included and randomly divided into treatment group (31 cases) and control group (31 cases). Patients in the treatment group were treated with Feitai Capsule, and patients in the control group did not accept any intervention. Regular observations and follow-up were performed for patients in the two groups.
Main outcome measures: Analysis of variance, nonparametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and quality of life.
Results: There were two dropouts and 60 valid cases. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. In the treatment group, symptom response and physical energy level were improved by 36.6% (Z=-2.632, P=0.008) and 26.7%(Z=-2.182, P=0.029), respectively. There was a positive correlation between these two factors (r=0.917, P<0.001). The patients in treatment group had a significantly improved quality of life after treatment. No serious adverse events were observed.
Conclusion: Feitai Capsule as maintenance treatment can improve the quality of life of the patients with mild-to-late stage NSCLC.