OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Modified Yiqi Chutan Recipe (MYCR) on blood flow perfusion in treating mid-late stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by using multislice CT perfusion (CTP) , and to assess the relationship between each CTP parameter and the prognosis as well.

METHODSTotally 87 mid-late stage NSCLC patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (44 cases, Shenyi Capsule + MYCR +chemotherapy) and the control group (43 cases, chemotherapy alone) in the ratio of 1:1. And 21 days consisted of 1 therapeutic course, 4 courses in total. All of them underwent CTP of primary tumor and routine thoracic CT examination (plain CT and enhancement CT) 3 times (before therapy, after 2 and 4 cycles). CT findings were analyzed for tumor size and perfusion parameters [blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), permeability surface (PS), mean transit time (MTT), and time to peak (TP) before and after treatment, and relationship between perfusion parameters and prognosis was also assessed.

RESULTSIn 87 cases, 7 dropped out and 80 cases were available, 40 in the treatment group and 40 in the control group. (1) The relief rate was 47.5% (19/40) and the total stable rate was 77.5% (31/40) in the treatment group, and they were 40.0% (16/40) and 65.0% (26/40) in the control group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (χ² = 0.672, 1.227; P > 0.05). (2) Compared with before treatment group in the same group, BF and PS decreased, and MTT increased in the two groups after 2 and 4 courses (P < 0.05); BE and PS decreased, and MTT increased in the control group after 2 courses (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after 4 courses, BE decreased more significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.05). (3) After 4 courses, all patients were assigned to the remission group (35 cases) and the non-remission group (45 cases) according to the RECIST standard. Compared with before treatment in the same group, BF, BF, and PS all decreased, and MTT increased in the remission group after treatment (all P < 0.05); BF increased in the non-remission group after treatment (P < 0.05). (4) All patients were assigned to the BE increase group (34 cases) and the BE decrease group (46 cases) according to changed BE values after treatment. Results showed the mean survival rate was 246 days in the BF increase group (the 1-year accumulative survival rate being 13.0%) and 387 days in the BE decrease group (the 1-year accumulative survival rate being 53.1%). The life span was prolonged and the 1-year accumulative survival rate was elevated in the BE increase group, with statistical difference as compared with the BE decrease group (χ² = 19.057, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSShenyi Capsule plus MYCR could reduce BE in mid-late stage NSCLC patients , improve vascular permeability, showing better synergistic effect with chemotherapy. CTP could not only reflect the change of tumor size, but also reflect vascular function of the tumor. Meanwhile, changes of CTP parameters were closely associated with prognosis. Patients with post-treatment decreased BE value had better prognosis and longer life span.