Cheng Jian-hua, Liu Wei-sheng, Li Zhi-ming, Wang Zhi-guang
Guangdong Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Chin J Integr Med. 2007 Dec;13(4):269-74. doi: 10.1007/s11655-007-0269-4.
To assess the clinical efficacy of global traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy in treating senile advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the aim of seeking a standardized, rational and economical way to treat advanced NSCLC in old patients.
A retrospective analysis and comparison was carried out in 86 patients with senile advanced NSCLC, 44 treated by global TCM (TCM group) and 42 by chemotherapy (control group) through dynamical observation on related indexes including tumor size, quality of life and the survival time, as well as on the fee for medical service at various time points in the course of the treatment.
The changes of tumor size, score of clinical main symptoms and behavior condition (by ZPS scoring), as well as survival rates in the two groups at corresponding time points, were not different significantly (P>0.05). The mean survival time in the TCM group was 13.20+/-1.52 months and that in the chemotherapy group was 13.45+/-1.94 months, showing insignificant difference between them. However, the median survival time in the TCM group (12 months) was actually longer than that in the chemotherapy group (9 months, P<0.05). The mean daily expense and the mean expense (RMB yuan) for each patient in the TCM group were significantly lower than that in the control group, which was 180.73+/-93.21 vs 825.84+/-329.63 for the mean daily expense and 34077.21+/-14638.04 vs 58516.59+/-45429.76 for the mean expense for each patient (both P<0.01).
Treatment of senile advanced NSCLC with TCM alone has its apparent superiority in stabilizing tumor focus, improving clinical symptoms, elevating quality of life and prolonging the survival time. TCM is also less expensive, making it a good alternative therapeutic approach for this specific group of people.
评估整体中医药治疗老年晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）的临床疗效，旨在探寻一种规范、合理且经济的老年晚期NSCLC治疗方法。
对86例老年晚期NSCLC患者进行回顾性分析与比较，其中44例采用整体中医药治疗（中医组），42例采用化疗（对照组），通过动态观察肿瘤大小、生活质量、生存时间等相关指标，以及治疗过程中各时间点的医疗费用。
两组在相应时间点的肿瘤大小变化、临床主要症状评分及行为状况（ZPS评分）以及生存率，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。中医组平均生存时间为13.20±1.52个月，化疗组为13.45±1.94个月，两者差异无统计学意义。然而，中医组的中位生存时间（12个月）实际上长于化疗组（9个月，P<0.05）。中医组平均每日费用及每位患者的平均费用（人民币元）均显著低于对照组，平均每日费用分别为180.73±93.21与825.84±329.63，每位患者的平均费用分别为34077.21±14638.04与58516.59±45429.76（均P<0.01）。
单纯中医药治疗老年晚期NSCLC在稳定肿瘤病灶、改善临床症状、提高生活质量及延长生存时间方面具有明显优势。中医药费用较低，是该特定人群良好的替代治疗方法。
