OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect and mechanism of Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Decoction (YYJD, a Chinese herbal recipe for strengthening qi, nourishing yin and removing toxic substance, consisting of milkvetch root 30 g, glehnia root 30 g, asparagus root 15 g, lilyturf root 15 g, grossy privet fruit 12 g, spikemoss herb 30 g, Chinese sage herb 30 g, manyleaf paris rhizome 30 g, etc. ) in treating patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSixty patients with advanced lung cancer of qi-yin deficiency syndrome were randomized into three groups: the TCM group (A) treated with YYJD, the chemotherapy group (B) treated by chemotherapy with NP or GP protocol, and the combined treated group (C) treated with YYJD and chemotherapy in combination. The efficacy was evaluated after two cycles of treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate for alleviating qi-yin deficiency syndrome in group A was 80%, significantly higher than that in Group C and B (35% and 20%, P <0.01) respectively. The KPS increasing and stabilizing rate in Group A and C was 90% and 85% respectively, significantly higher than that in Group B (75%), and difference between A and B was significant (P <0.05). In Group C after treatment, CD(3)+ showed a rising trend (P = 0.05), different to that in Group A and B (P <0.05 and P <0.01); CD(4)+ significantly increased (P <0.05) and CD(4)+/CD(8)+ ratio showed increasing trend (P = 0.06), while in Group B both were decreased significantly, showed significantly difference (P < 0.05). CD(8)+ CD(28)+ significantly increased after treatment in Group A and C (P <0.01 and P <0.05), but showed decreasing trend (P = 0.06) in Group B, significant difference was shown between B and C (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONYYJD can ameliorate the qi-yin deficiency syndrome evidently in advance lung cancer patients; improve their quality of life, the mechanism might be by way of enhancing T-lymphocyte activity and killer T-cell function, to elevate the T-cell mediated immunity in a round way.