OBJECTIVETo investigate short term clinical therapeutic effect of fupiyiwei decoction (FPYWD) combined with chemotherapy in treating postoperational large intestine carcinoma and the effect on immune function.

METHODThe 58 cases of postoperational large intestine carcinoma were randomly divided into the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (33 cases) and the control group (25 cases). The toxic and adverse reaction, Karnofsky score and clinical therapeutic effect during chemotherapy were observed, and the level of subgroup of T cells CD3, CD4, CD8 and NK cells were detected. Before and after treatment 28 healthy adult were regarded as normal group.

RESULTThere was no significant difference in clinic therapeutic effect between the TCM group and the control group after 12 chemotherapy treatment courses. But the quality of life the TCM group remarkably better than in the control group (P < 0.05), while the incidence rate of toxic and adverse reaction of chemotherapy in the former group was lower than in the latter (P < 0.05). The level of CD3+, CD4+ T cell and the viability of NK cells in all patients decreased during the chemotherapy treatment course while the level of CD8+ T cell increased, the level of CD3+ T cell and NK cells in peripheral blood in patients increased after treatment, but was lower than in normal group. The level of CD8+ T cell was decreased and was lower than in normal group. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05). The level of CD4 T cell after TCM group, there was significant different in CD4+ T cell between TCM group and control group, normal group (P < 0.05). The viability of NK cell increased but there was no significant difference between the two group.

CONCLUSIONFupiyiwei decoction (FPYWD) is effective in prevention and treatment of the toxic and adverse effects of chemotherapy of postoperational large intestine carcinoma, and can improve quality of life and immune function of patients. increase the effective of chemotherapy.