Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Jun; 25(3): 254-6.

[Efficacy of radiotherapy combined with Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in NPC patients]

Yuan J, Zhang Z, Xiao JY.

Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008.

From January 1992 to November 1994, 163 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were prospectively randomized into three groups: standard radiotherapy (SRT) group, external irradiation and after-load intracavitary radiation in combination with traditional Chinese medicine (EIAIRC) group, and external irradiation plus traditional Chinese medicine (EIC) group. All patients were treated with usual radiotherapy. The nasopharynx's radiation dose was 50-60 Gy, intracavitary irradiation 16 Gy/2 times (The distance from radiation source to spot of reference was 14 mm away). The radiation dose in EIC and SRT group was 68-72 Gy, respectively. The results were as follows: 1. There were no statistical difference among the three groups in 3-year or 5-year survival rate and no local relapse or distant metastasis. 2. The TCM alleviated the acute radiation reaction and damage effects. It indicates that the therapy might decrease radiation dose and the TCM does not induce NPC distant metastasis.