BACKGROUNDGensing Rg3 is an active component from ginseng. The aim of this study is to observe the clinical anticancer effect of Rg3 in combination with chemotherapy regimen NP (vinorelbine+cisplatin) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSStage III-IV NSCLC patients confirmed by pathology or cytology all received vinorelbine plus cisplatin for at least two cycles, and were randomized into two groups: patients in arm A also received placebo twice a day, while patients in arm B received two tablets of Rg3 twice a day for at least two months. The endpoints of the study were the efficacy, survival and tolerance of patients.

RESULTSFrom July 2000 to May 2002, 115 patients were enrolled into the trial. The patients' characteristics were well balanced in the two groups. Sex of patients: male, 79; female 36. Types of pathology: adenocarcinoma, 71; squamous cell carcinoma, 29; adenosquamous carcinoma, 8; others, 7. TNM stage: stage III, 45; stage IV, 70. Prior chemotherapy: with, 17; without, 98. Prior radiotherapy: with, 15; without, 100. Prior surgical treatment: with, 23; without, 92. Nine patients discontinued from the trial due to severe adverse effects (5) and other reasons (4), so there were 106 patients evaluable for clinical efficacy. The response rate was 14.5% (8/55) in arm A, and 33.3% (17/51) in arm B (P=0.011). The survival time in arm A was 9.7 months (mean) and 8.0 months (median), and 15.3 months (mean) and 10.0 months (median) in arm B (P=0.0088).

CONCLUSIONSPreliminary results show improvements in response rate and survival time (median and mean) in Rg3 arm compared with placebo arm. It is worthy to confirm the results in further clinical trials.