10.3969/j.issn.1008-9691.2013.03.009

This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy ofTong-Bu San-Sheng(TBSS) Decoction to reduce the toxicity and side effects of chemotherapy, as well as prolong progression-free survival (PFS) for advanced lung squamous carcinoma patients who received chemotherapy. A total of 83 lung squamous carcinoma cases were divided into two groups by patients’ wishes. The control group contained 41 cases were treated by the chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP). The trial group contained 42 cases were treated by chemotherapy plus Chinese herbal medicine TBSS decoction. The toxicity and side effects of chemotherapy, as well as short-term outcome were evaluated. PFS of patient was recorded. The results showed that there were no differences on granulocytopenia (P = 0.115) or short-term outcome (P = 0.081) for patients of both groups after chemotherapy. The percentages of nausea, vomiting and thrombocytopenia in the trial group were lower than that in the control group (P = 0.037,P = 0.040). The PFS of patients in the trail group were prolonged compared to patients in the control group (4.31 ± 0.24 VS 3.78 ± 0.16 month;P = 0.043). It was concluded that Chinese herbal medicine TBSS decoction cannot reduce granulocytopenia caused by chemotherapy, or improve the tumor response rate (RR) of short-term outcome. However, it can prolong PFS, relieve nausea, vomiting and thrombocytopenia during chemotherapy.