OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Quxie Capsule (QXC) on the median survival time and quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSForty patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were observed in a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Out of them the 37 evaluable patients were assigned into the treatment group (18 patients) and the control group (19 patients). They were all treated by the routine treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while those in the treatment group were administered with QXC additionally. After being treated for 3 months, the follow-up study was carried out to evaluate the fatality rate (FR), survival time (ST), median survival time (mST), time to progression (TTP), and quality of life (QOF).

RESULTSFR, mST, ST and TTP in the treatment group were 11.1% (2/18), 17 months, 22.63 +/- 7.34 months, and 17.76 +/- 5.62 months respectively, and those in the control group were 42.1% (8/19), 13 months, 19.76 +/- 8.28 months and 12.68 +/- 9.26 months respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The scores of TCM symptom, QOF and KPS in the treatment group were 15.59 +/- 3.78, 54.06 +/- 3.96 and 64.71 +/- 6.24 before treatment, and 10.53 +/- 5.57, 58.65 +/- 4.03, 69.41 +/- 4.29 after treatment, respectively, showing significant improvement (P < 0.05). While the three scores in the control group were 16.11 +/- 3.99, 54.06 +/- 4.39 and 64.44 +/- 5.11 before treatment, and 19.61 +/- 7.78, 50.17 +/- 8.26 and 60.00 +/- 9.70 after treatment, respectively, showing a statistically significant worsening tendency in the latter two (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONQXC can reduce the FR, prolong the ST, mST, mCFPT, and improve the QOF in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.