[Clinical evaluation of schizophyllan (SPG) in advanced gastric cancer (the second report)--a randomized controlled study].

We reported previously that Schizophyllan (SPG) combined with MMC + 5-FU (MF regimen) or Tegafur (F regimen) had a significant life-prolonging effect over chemotherapeutic regimens in patients with inoperable and recurrent gastric cancer in a randomized controlled study. In the present paper, we have further investigated the effect of SPG on life-span followed-up for more than 2 years. A significant life-prolonging effect of SPG was reconfirmed in patients given either the MF regimen (154 patients) or the F regimen (213 patients). Thus, SPG combined with chemotherapeutics has proved to be useful for treating patients with inoperable and recurrent gastric cancer, resulting in a significant prolongation of life-span without serious side effects despite having no influence on tumor size.