Report the Effective of Integrated Palliative Care using for Advanced Cancer as Second-Line or Later Treatment by Herbal Extractive Medicine

Background: The on-going treatments of unresectable pancreatic, hepatocellular and late-stage lung cancer (PC\HCC\LC) are less effectiveness as second-line or later treatment. However, the palliaitve care is alternative option. Here, we reported the patients who received palliative care by herbal extractive medicines (CHM).

Methods: 13 pancreatic, 31 hepatocellular and 168 lung cancer patients were enrolled. CHM (Senghuang, SH; Xianhe Baijiang, XB), which approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), hyperthermia and arginine were initiated. Survival time, quality of life (QOL) and toxicity were evaluated.

Result: The average ECOG score improved and no severe hematology and digestion side-effects were observed. In PC group, the median and the average survival time were 5.1 and 6.5 months; The 3-, 6-, and 10-month survival rates were 92.3%, 46.2%, and 30.8%, respectively. The longest survival time was 16.7 months and patient still alive. In HCC group, the average and median survival time were 12.48 and 5.03 months; The 3-, 6-, and 12-month survival time rates were 77.42%, 38.71%, and 29.03%, respectively. The longest survival time was 84.2 months. In LC group, the 6 months, 1-, 2- and 5-year survival time rates were 33.93%, 19.05%, 14.29% and 4.17%, respectively. Meanwhile, in lung cancer group, once the survival time was over 6 months, the average and median survival time were 29.98 and 14.80 months; and the 1-, 2- and 5-year survival time rates were up to 56.14%, 42.11% and 12.28%, respectively.

Conclusion: CHM can be considered as complementary and alternative medicine that provide moderate effective and low toxicity for advanced cancer.

Keywords:Palliative care; Herbal extracted medicine; Advanced cancer