the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, Berkeley
    San Francisco Oncology Associates
    Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
    Pine Street Foundation, San Anselmo
    Institute of Information, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

    ABSTRACT

    PURPOSE: Systemic treatments for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer have low efficacy and high toxicity. Some Chinese herbal medicines have been reported to increase chemotherapy efficacy and reduce toxicity. In particular, Astragalus has been shown to have immunologic benefits by stimulating macrophage and natural killer cell activity and inhibiting T-helper cell type 2 cytokines. Many published studies have assessed the use of Astragalus and other Chinese herbal medicines in combination with chemotherapy. We sought to evaluate evidence from randomized trials that Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine combined with platinum-based chemotherapy (versus platinum-based chemotherapy alone) improves survival, increases tumor response, improves performance status, or reduces chemotherapy toxicity.

    METHODS: We searched CBM, MEDLINE, TCMLARS, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CCRCT databases for studies in any language. We grouped studies using the same herbal combinations for random-effects meta-analysis.

    RESULTS: Of 1,305 potentially relevant publications, 34 randomized studies representing 2,815 patients met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies (n = 940 patients) reported reduced risk of death at 12 months (risk ratio [RR] = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.87). Thirty studies (n = 2,472) reported improved tumor response data (RR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.46). In subgroup analyses, Jin Fu Kang in two studies (n = 221 patients) reduced risk of death at 24 months (RR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.68) and in three studies (n = 411) increased tumor response (RR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.53). Ai Di injection (four studies; n = 257) stabilized or improved Karnofsky performance status (RR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.46).

    CONCLUSION: Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine may increase effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy when combined with chemotherapy. These results require confirmation with rigorously controlled trials.

    INTRODUCTION

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 27% and 31% of all cancer deaths in women and men, respectively.1 Although lung cancer deaths in men have declined substantially (from 92 in 100,000 in 1995, to 84 in 100,000 in 2001), death rates in women only recently began to stabilize in 1995 (at approximately 42 in 100,000 between 1995 and 2001) after increasing for two decades between 4% and 6% per year.2 Lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in women.1 Seventy-five percent of all lung cancer occurrences are non–small-cell lung cancer.

    Despite treatment advances, new systemic therapies for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer developed in the last few decades continue to have both low efficacy and high toxicity. Meta-analyses have shown that, compared with treatment with surgery alone, adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy reduces the risk of death at 2 years by only 13%3; adjuvant chemoradiotherapy reduces that risk by 14%4; adjuvant radiotherapy alone conversely increases that risk by 21%.5,6 The addition of platinum-based drugs to standard chemotherapy protocols increased 12-month survival by 5% and tumor response by 62%, but with significantly increased hematologic toxicity, nephrotoxicity, and nausea and vomiting.7 The 12-month survival for platinum-based regimens has been found in meta-analysis to be 34% (95% CI, 33% to 36%).7 More recently, the addition of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase–inhibitor drug, gefitinib, to carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy in a phase III randomized, controlled trial demonstrated no additional benefit in survival or time to progression.8 These poor outcomes in survival, tumor response, quality of life, and toxicity for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer emphasize the need for additional improvements in approaches to treatment.

    In China, herbal medicine frequently is combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer. Of particular interest is the herb Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.), which may potentiate host immune function by stimulating macrophage and natural killer cell activity,9 and enhance immune recognition of lung cancer cells by inhibiting production of T-helper cell type 2 cytokines10 (T-helper cell subsets implicated in the development of immunological tolerance to tumor progression).11 In a recent clinical trial, single-agent Astragalus herbal treatment in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, compared with platinum-based chemotherapy alone, has been shown to significantly reduce risk of death at 12 months (risk ratio [RR] = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.89) and 24 months (RR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.97).12 In clinical practice and in most published trials, however, Astragalus rarely is used as single-agent therapy; it usually is combined with other herbal medicines.

    This meta-analysis was motivated by the large number of published trials of Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicines combined with platinum-based chemotherapy, and the continuing problems with low efficacy and high toxicity in standard chemotherapy treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. Our a priori hypotheses were that adding Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine to platinum-based chemotherapy, compared with treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy alone, could prolong survival, increase tumor response, stabilize or improve performance status, and reduce chemotherapy toxicity.

    METHODS

    Study Identification

    We conducted a systematic search of the following databases: CBM China BioMedical Bibliographic Database (1978 to August 2004; www.imicams.ac.cn/cbm), TCMLARS (1984 to August 2004; www.cintcm.com), PubMed (1966 to August 2004; www.pubmed.gov), EMBASE (1974 to August 2004; http://embase.com/), Cochrane Library (1988 to August 2004; http://cochrane.org), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1966 to August 2004; http://cochrane.org). We used an extensive list of search terms (the full search strategy is available on request from the authors). The search was designed to find initially all trials involving non–small-cell lung cancer, chemotherapy, Chinese herbal medicine, and randomized controlled trials (and multiple synonyms for each term). We also searched for references from within the bibliographies of all eligible studies. No restrictions were placed on the publication language. Two reviewers (M.M. and C.S.) independently identified studies and translated abstracts and relevant data portions of eligible studies.

    Study Eligibility

    We screened titles and abstracts and retained those that were described as randomized, recruited patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer, provided the treatment group with Chinese herbal medicines containing the herb Astragalus in combination with standard platinum-based chemotherapy, provided the control group with platinum-based chemotherapy alone, and reported data on at least one of our outcomes of interest (survival, tumor response, performance status, or toxicity) with sufficient detail to permit calculation of the risk ratios of each outcome and 95% CIs. We obtained full-text copies of all abstracts or titles that potentially met our inclusion criteria and conducted a thorough screening of those articles obtained to confirm they met our inclusion criteria.

    All inclusion and exclusion criteria and the categorization of outcomes were made before any meta-analysis of the data. Our decision to group together for this meta-analysis those studies using platinum-based chemotherapy was based on the fact that this therapy is currently a standard treatment for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. Following the example set by D’Addario et al7 and the Cochrane Collaboration’s Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Collaborative Group,3 platinum-based chemotherapy was grouped together as a therapeutic class when assessing efficacy of treatment for non–small-cell lung cancer. Each stage of the planning, design, analysis, and reporting of this meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the QUOROM Statement guidelines (Fig 1). 13

    Data Extraction

    Two reviewers (M.M. and C.S.) independently extracted data on patient characteristics, treatment details, clinical outcomes, and study quality.14,15 We searched for data on survival outcomes of any type (total survival, cause-specific survival, and disease-free survival, with either crude data or adjusted measures), objective tumor response, reduction in chemotherapy toxicity, and improved or stabilized performance status. To evaluate Chinese herbal medicine in total as a therapeutic system, we first grouped together for meta-analysis the data from all studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Then, to evaluate the efficacy of specific herbal formulas, when we found more than one study using the exact same herbal formula, we grouped together for meta-analysis the data from those specific studies.

    Study Quality

    We used the Jadad scale, a validated 5-point scale developed to evaluate the quality of the reporting of randomized trials in meta-analysis.16,17 The scale assigns a score of 0 or 1 for each of the following study quality criteria: whether the study was described as randomized, whether the authors reported the method of randomization, whether the use of blinding was reported, whether the method for concealment of allocation was reported, and whether the authors accounted for patient withdrawals and drop-outs. Thus, a perfect study would receive a score of 5, and the lowest quality study according to this scale would receive a score of 0.

    Analysis of Outcomes

    Survival. Given that all of the studies identified in our systematic search reported crude survival data as the number of patients in each treatment group who died by 6, 12, 24, or 36 months, we calculated the probability of failure (death) as the number of patients who had died by each time point divided by the total number of patients enrolled at the start of the trial for each treatment group. This approach is intentionally conservative: if some patients dropped out of the study, retaining them in the denominator as we have done would lower the estimate of effectiveness. This is analogous to an intention-to-treat analysis.18 The risk ratios of treatment failure (death) at each time point was calculated as the proportion who died in the Astragalus-based herbal medicine plus platinum-based chemotherapy treatment group, divided by this proportion in the platinum-based chemotherapy group. Thus, RR less than 1 favors the combination regimen. This is the same approach taken by D’Addario et al7 in a meta-analysis of 12-month survival rates in the treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer patients with platinum-based versus nonplatinum-based chemotherapy.

    Objective tumor response. Given that most of the studies identified in our systematic search reported tumor response at conclusion of treatment using the 4-point WHO scale,19 we calculated the probability of tumor response as the number of patients experiencing any response (complete response plus partial response) divided by the total number of patients in each treatment group (complete response plus partial response plus no change plus progressive disease). The RR of tumor response was calculated as the probability of tumor response in the Astragalus-based herbal medicine plus platinum-based chemotherapy treatment group, divided by this proportion in the platinum-based chemotherapy group. Thus, RR more than 1 favors the combination regimen. This is the approach for meta-analysis of tumor response recommended by Sutton et al.14

    Performance status. Many of the studies identified in our systematic search reported performance status using the Karnofsky performance scale,20 with most using a 10-point change as the cutoff for improved or worse performance status, and a few others using a 20-point change as the cutoff. We therefore calculated the probability of improved or stable performance status as the proportion of improved or stable performance status: (> 10-point increase plus no change) divided by the total (> 10-point increase, plus no change, plus > 10-point decrease). The RR of improved or stable performance status was calculated as the proportion of improved or stable performance status in the Astragalus-based herbal medicine plus platinum-based chemotherapy treatment group, divided by this proportion in the platinum-based chemotherapy group. Thus, RR more than 1 favors the combination regimen.

    Reduction in chemotherapy toxicity. Given that most of the studies identified in our systematic search reported occurrence of chemotherapy-related toxicity using the 5-point WHO scale,19 we calculated the probability of occurrence of toxicity as the number of patients experiencing any severe toxicity (WHO grade 3 or 4) divided by the total number of patients in each treatment group (WHO grades 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4). The RR of reduction in toxicity was calculated as the proportion of severe toxicity in the Astragalus-based herbal medicine plus platinum-based chemotherapy treatment group, divided by this proportion in the platinum-based chemotherapy group. Thus, RR less than 1 favors the combination regimen. This is the same approach taken recently by Delbaldo et al,21 who reported the odds ratio for the occurrence of grade 3 or 4 toxicity in a meta-analysis of single-agent versus two-agent chemotherapy for non–small-cell lung cancer.

    Meta-Analysis, Between-Study Heterogeneity, and Publication Bias

    We used the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird22 to estimate the summary RR for each of the four outcomes: risk of death (at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months), tumor response, performance status, and severe chemotherapy toxicity. We used the 2 statistic to assess between-study heterogeneity.23,24 To assess publication bias, we used the Begg test, which examines the association between the effect estimates of individual studies and their variances; significant correlation between these two factors identifies publication bias.25

    RESULTS

    Studies Retrieved

    Our systematic search identified 1,305 potentially relevant abstracts, of which 92 were identified as requiring full-text article retrieval. Close screening of these 92 studies excluded 58 because no patients received Astragalus (n = 33), patients randomly assigned to herbal therapy in some cases received herbal medicine not actually containing the specific herb Astragalus (n = 6), the article did not describe a controlled trial (n = 3), no platinum drugs were included in chemotherapy (n = 3), there were no usable end points (n = 9), or the article was a duplicate of another study (n = 4). This resulted in 34 studies accepted for meta-analysis (Fig 1).

    Survival

    We identified seven studies reporting a total of 529 patients that reported reduced risk of death at 6 months for Astragalus combinations versus chemotherapy alone (RR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.71): five using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.78)26-30 and two using a specific herbal formula, Jin Fu Kang (RR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.28 to 1.34; Table 1 and Fig 2). 31,32 We identified 12 studies with a total of 940 patients that reported reduced risk of death at 12-months (RR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.87): one using single-agent Astragalus (RR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.88),12 nine using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.90),26-30,33-36 and two using formula Jin Fu Kang (RR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.20 to 4.01; Table 1 and Fig 2).31,32 We identified nine studies with a total of 768 patients that reported reduced risk of death at 24 months (RR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.86): one using single-agent Astragalus (RR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.97),12 six using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.96),27,29,33-36 and two using formula Jin Fu Kang (RR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.68; Table 1 and Fig 3). 31,32 We identified six studies with a total of 556 patients that reported reduced risk of death at 36 months (RR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.94): one using single-agent Astragalus (RR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.08),12 four using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.998),27,33,35,36 and one using formula Jin Fu Kang (RR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.92; Table 1 and Fig 3).32

    Among studies reporting median survival, none included confidence intervals, P values, or variance. We were therefore unable to perform a meta-analysis of median survival.

    Tumor Response

    We identified 30 studies representing a total of 2,472 patients that reported tumor response data (RR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.46): seven using specific formula Ai Di injection (RR = 1.19; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.44),37-43 two using single-agent Astragalus (RR = 1.57; 95% CI, 0.85 to 2.93),12,44 18 using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.47),27-30,34-36,45-55 and three using formula Jin Fu Kang (RR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.53; Table 1 and Fig 4). 31,32,56

    Performance Status

    We identified 12 studies representing a total of 1,095 patients that reported performance status data (RR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.54): four using specific formula Ai Di injection (RR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.46),37,38,43,57 one using single-agent Astragalus (RR = 1.22; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.52),12 five using various Astragalus-based combinations (RR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.49),36,48,50,51,53 and two using formula Jin Fu Kang (RR = 1.68; 95% CI, 0.82 to 3.44; Table 1 and Fig 5). 32,56

    Reduction in Chemotherapy Toxicity

    We found no significant results for specific herbal formulas in reducing severe WBC, platelet, or hemoglobin toxicity.

    Publication Bias and Study Quality

    We did not find evidence for publication bias according to the Begg test (Table 1). Most studies had a quality score of only 0 or 1 on the Jadad scale. Only three studies had a score of 2 or higher (Table 2). 31,32,56

    DISCUSSION

    These findings are subject to several limitations. Our meta-analysis results suggest that combining platinum-based chemotherapy with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer may increase survival, tumor response, and performance status, as well as reduce chemotherapy toxicity, when compared with treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy alone; however, because the studies we found were of poor quality, we are unable to make firm conclusions and confirmation must await investigation in future trials.

    Only one of these studies,56 using the formula Jin Fu Kang, described the method of randomization used. None of the other studies provided any details of the randomization method used, an unfortunate oversight given the availability of low-cost computers and free random number–generating software. Even more problematic was the lack of discussion in any study about whether the investigators knew which patients were randomly assigned to receive Astragalus-based herbal medicine. However, failure to describe randomization procedures fully is not limited to Chinese medical journals. Surprisingly, nearly 10 years since publication of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement,58 which was intended to improve the quality of reporting in randomized trials, more than 40% of trials published in 2004 in Western medical journals either failed to use adequate randomization methods or failed to report the method for concealment of allocation.59

    Current standards in the quality of reporting in studies that analyze survival time require that the authors specify how they handled patients who were lost to follow-up, the percentage of patients lost to follow-up, and whether those patients were censored in the analysis.59 No studies reported this information. Although there exists the possibility of censoring, which could bias our survival findings, our analysis would tend toward underestimation of any effects of this potential bias. These findings may be limited by the low quality of published studies identified in our systematic searching. In addition, there was between-study heterogeneity in the evidence for improved survival at 6, 12, and 24 months, as well as in the evidence for improved performance status.

    Additional research is needed to further understand the specific immunologic and cytotoxic mechanisms by which Astragalus may function as an adjunct to chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. Such work would also assist in the identification of which specific herbal combinations most strongly and reliably enhance the action of Astragalus. Although we did not locate any published evidence of interaction between platinum chemotherapy and Astragalus, such interactions are possible, and should be investigated further.

    The Institute of Medicine, Washington, D.C., recently concluded that complementary and alternative medicines should face rigorous testing.60 An efficient method for identifying compounds or combinations of compounds with potential antitumor activity and clinical efficacy may be to critically evaluate the evidence from clinical studies published in China. Although such studies have been reported to be of low quality, nevertheless they many contain credible evidence pointing the direction toward herbal medicines worthy of additional study. Because clinical trials are so expensive and difficult, these findings can help to pick the most promising agents for study.

    Other systematic reviews of published studies from Chinese journals have identified specific journals with better study quality, and also found trends in improvement of study quality over time.61 It is hoped that systematic reviews and meta-analyses such as this one will help specify where further improvements in the design and reporting of research conducted and published in China are needed.

    We found evidence that Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine may increase effectiveness (by improving survival, tumor response, and performance status) and reduce toxicity of standard platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. However, confirmation of these conclusions in rigorously controlled, randomized trials is required before more firm conclusions about this therapy can be drawn.

    Authors’ Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest

    The authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest.

    Author Contributions

    Conception and design: Michael McCulloch, Michael Broffman, John M. Colford Jr

    Administrative support: Michael Broffman, Wei-yu Fan, Jin Gao, John M. Colford Jr

    Provision of study materials or patients: Michael McCulloch, Xiao-juan Shu, Wei-yu Fan, Jin Gao

    Collection and assembly of data: Michael McCulloch, Caylie See, Xiao-juan Shu, Wei-yu Fan, Jin Gao, Whitney Lieb, Kane Shieh

    Data analysis and interpretation: Michael McCulloch, Caylie See, Xiao-juan Shu, Alan Kramer, John M. Colford Jr

    Manuscript writing: Michael McCulloch, Michael Broffman, Alan Kramer, John M. Colford Jr

    Final approval of manuscript: Michael McCulloch, Caylie See, Xiao-juan Shu, Michael Broffman, Alan Kramer, Wei-yu Fan, Jin Gao, Whitney Lieb, Kane Shieh, John M. Colford Jr

    NOTES

    Authors’ disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

    REFERENCES

    Jemal A, Murray T, Ward E, et al: Cancer statistics, 2005. CA Cancer J Clin 55:10-30, 2005

    Jemal A, Clegg LX, Ward E, et al: Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975-2001, with a special feature regarding survival. Cancer 101:3-27, 2004

    Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Collaborative Group: Chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer [Cochrane Database System Review]. Oxford, United Kingdom, CD002139, issue 4, 2004

    Rowell N, O’Rourke N. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer [Cochrane Database System Review]. Oxford, United Kingdom, CD002140, issue 4, 2004

    PORT Meta-analysis Trialists Group. Postoperative radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer [Cochrane Database System Review]. Oxford, United Kingdom, CD002142, issue 4, 2004

    Burdett S, Stewart L: Postoperative radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. Lung Cancer 47:81-83, 2005

    D’Addario G, Pintilie M, Leighl NB, et al: Platinum-based versus non-platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis of the published literature. J Clin Oncol 23:2926-2936, 2005

    Herbst RS, Giaccone G, Schiller JH, et al: Gefitinib in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A phase III trial—INTACT 2. J Clin Oncol 22:785-794, 2004

    Mills S, Bone K: Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone; 2000

    Wei H, Sun R, Xiao W, et al: Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus reverses predominance of Th2 cytokines and their up-stream transcript factors in lung cancer patients. Oncol Rep 10:1507-1512, 2003

    Pellegrini P, Berghella AM, Del Beato T, et al: Disregulation in TH1 and TH2 subsets of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients and involvement in cancer establishment and progression. Cancer Immunol Immunother 42:1-8, 1996

    Zou YH, Liu XM: Effect of Astragalus injection combined with chemotherapy on quality of life in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 23 733-735, 2003

    Moher D, Cook DJ, Eastwood S, et al: Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: The QUOROM statement—Quality of reporting of meta-analyses. Lancet 354:1896-1900, 1999

    Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Jones DR, et al: Methods for Meta-Analysis in Medical Research. Chichester, United Kingdom, John Wiley & Sons, 2000

    Petitti DB. Meta-Analysis, Decision Analysis, and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Methods for Quantitative Synthesis in Medicine (ed 2). New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2000

    Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, et al: Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary Control Clin Trials 17:1-12, 1996

    Clark HD, Wells GA, Huet C, et al: Assessing the quality of randomized trials: Reliability of the Jadad scale. Control Clin Trials 20:448-452, 1999

    Heritier SR, Gebski VJ, Keech AC: Inclusion of patients in clinical trial analysis: The intention-to-treat principle. Med J Aust 179:438-440, 2003

    WHO. WHO Handbook for Reporting Results of Cancer Treatment. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Orgnaization, 1979

    Yates JW, Chalmer B, McKegney FP: Evaluation of patients with advanced cancer using the Karnofsky performance status. Cancer 45:2220-2224, 1980

    Delbaldo C, Michiels S, Syz N: Benefits of adding a drug to a single-agent or a 2-agent chemotherapy regimen in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis. JAMA 292:470-484, 2004

    DerSimonian R, Laird N: Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials 7:177-188, 1986

    Cochran WG: The combination of estimates from different experiments. Biometrics 101-129 101-129, 1954

    Whitehead A, Whitehead J: A general parametric approach to the meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Stat Med 10:1665-1677, 1991

    Begg CB, Mazumdar M: Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias. Biometrics 50:1088-1101, 1994

    Wang YQ: Integrated Chinese and Western medicine combined treatment for primary-stage lung cancer with pleural effusion. Liaoning Zhongyi Zazhi 27:129, 2000

    Wang JX, Zhu CL: A clinical observation of the effect of supplementing Qi and nourishing yin prescription combined with MOP on the stage III IV of the nonsmall cell lung cancer. Shi Yong Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 10:1839-1840, 1997

    Weng JY: Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of 19 cases of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. Zhejiang Zhong Liu 4:129, 1998

    Chen GP, Weng JY: Treatment value of Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy for excision of lung cancer. Zhejiang Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 10:407-408, 2000

    Sui DJ, Zhou LN, Li G: Fuzhengjian to treat middle to late-stage lung cancer in 40 patients. Shanxi Zhongyi 17:16-17, 2001

    Liu JX, Shi ZM, Xu ZH, et al: Clinical observations of Jin Fu Kang Kou Fu Ye in treating non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhong Yi Za Zhi 38:727-729, 1997

    Liu JX, Shi ZM, Li HG, et al: Clinical observations of lung nourishing anti-tumor beverage in treating non-small-cell lung cancer in 271 cases. Shanghai Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 2:4-6, 2001

    Jin CJ, Li LN, Cui Q, et al: Clinical observation of chemotherapy and Chinese Medicine in treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Shanghai Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 37:16-17, 2003

    Yu LL, Han ZY: Clinical observation of Chinese herbal medicine combined with interventional chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongxiyi Jiehe Zazhi 23:56-57, 2003

    Zhou HF: Chinese herbal medicine Yi Qi Yang Yin Tang combined with vinorelbine-cisplatin chemotherapy in the treatment of 46 patients with stage III and IV non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhejiang Zhongyi Zazhi 38:474, 2003

    Liu SS: Clinical research of Fei Yi Liu He Ji in the treatment of primary bronchopulmonary cancer. Shan Dong Zhongyiyao Daxue Xuebue 28:99-102, 2004

    Wang C, Wang LM, Xie GR: Clinical observation of Aidi injectable liquid simultaneously used with chemotherapy to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. Tianjin Zhongyi 19:61, 2002

    Gao P: Clinical observation of Ai Di Zhu She Ye combined with chemotherapy in treating late stage non-small cell lung cancer. Henan Zhongyi 10:45-46, 2003

    Lu J, Lu L, Fang J: Analysis of 75 patients with late stage non-small-cell lung cancer treated with Ai Di Zhu She Ye and chemotherapy. Shiyong Zhongyi Neike Zazhi 17:136, 2003

    Zhang LH, Wang FZ, Liu GR: Observation of the effect of Chinese herbal medicine Ai Di Zhu She Ye combined with chemotherapy on short-term quality of life in late stage nonsmall cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Shiyong Neike Zazhi 23:427-428, 2003

    Cheng WC, Ma L, Jin C, et al: Observation of the effects of Ai Di Zhu She Ye combined with Irinotecan protocol in the treatment of middle and late stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongliu Yanjiu Yu Linchuang 15:199-200, 2003

    Zhang NS, Yang DZ, Niu RG, et al: Analysis of 98 cases of middle and late stage non-small-cell lung cancer treated with Ai Di Zhu She Ye combined with chemotherapy. Zhongyiyao Xuekan 21:1599, 2003

    Wang DJ, Chen YL, Ren J, et al: A randomized clinical study on the efficacy of Aidi injection combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Feiai Zazhi 7:247-249, 2004

    Gao CR, Xia HP, Shi JG, et al: Clinical observation of Shenqi pills combined with chemotherapy to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongxiyi Jiehe Zazhi 21:908, 2001

    Sun SX, Wang XM, Yu RC: Analysis of Chinese medicine to benefit qi and tonify blood in the treatment of late-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongyiyao Xinxi Zazhi 9:57-58, 2002

    Wang ZL: Clinical observation of Yi Qi Yang Yin Gu Ben Tang to reduce side effects of chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Jiangxi Zhongyiyao 33:40, 2002

    Li DY, Ou CM, Li GD, et al: Clinical observations of Fu Zheng Pai Du Kang Ai Fang in increasing effectiveness and reducing toxicity of chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongxiyi Jiehe Zazhi 20:208-209, 2000

    Chu GT, Cao YS, Zheng AP: 64 cases of non-small-cell lung cancer treated with Fu Zheng Qu Yu Tang combined with chemoradiotherapy. He Nan Zhongyiyao Xuekan 14:31-32, 1999

    Liu Q: Observations of effectiveness of Yi Qi San Jie Fang combined with chemotherapy in treating 35 cases of middle and late state non-small-lung cancer. Shanxi Zhongyi 15:26-27, 1999

    Fan YF, Xu QP, Jiang N, et al: Clinical study of tumor response with integrated Chinese Western medicine in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Fujian Zhongyiyao 34:6-7, 2003

    Zhou H, Zhang DC: Zhang Shi Kang Ai San No. 5 combined with chemotherapy the treatment of late stage lung cancer. Hubei Zhongyi Zazhi 25:27-28, 2003

    Fei CB, Wang YM, Wang LL, et al: Fu Zheng Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Liaoning Zhongyi Zazhi 30:266-267, 2003

    Jia YJ, Shi FM, Jia CS, et al: Clinical research of Xiao Yan Tang in the treatment of late stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Tianjin Zhongyiyao 21:108-110, 2004

    Cao Y, Yuan SH, Qiao ZB, et al: Clinical research on Yi Qi Yang Yin Fang combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of late stage nonsmall-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongyi Jichu Yixue Zazhi 9:32-33, 595, 2003

    Li TS: Clinical study of Fei Bao Dan combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongguo Zhongyiyao Xinxi Zazhi 6:50, 1999

    Liu JX, Pan MQ, Li YH, et al: Clinical study of Jin Fu Kang oral liquid for treating non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhongliu 21:463-465, 2001

    Zhang XH, Li J, Sun CY, et al: Clinical research on Ai Di Zhu She Ye combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of middle and late stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Zhonghua Zhongxiyi Zazhi 5:230-231, 2004

    Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman DG: The CONSORT statement: Revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med 134:657-662, 2001

    Hewitt C, Hahn S, Torgerson DJ, et al: Adequacy and reporting of allocation concealment: Review of recent trials published in four general medical journals. BMJ 330:1057-1058, 2005

    Marwick C: Complementary, alternative therapies should face rigorous testing, IOM concludes. J Natl Cancer Inst 97:255-256, 2005

    Yu GP, Gao SW: Quality of clinical trials of Chinese herbal drugs, a review of 314 published papers. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 14 50-52, 1994

查询更多Chemotherapy相关信息在本站>>

《临床肿瘤学医学期刊》2006年1月第24卷第1期