Cryosurgical Combined With Traditional Chinese Treatment Of Lung Cancer In Clinical Studies

Objective: Using prospective research method and retrospective research method, the study had a deep and particular research into curative effect on 88 lung cancer patients who had been treated by a new therapy method,TCM combining with Argon-helium cryoablation. The result can offer some help with the clinic applications of the new therapy. The study tries to find out the virtues and shortcoming of the new therapy method. According to the result, it is possible for us to enhance the efficacy and enlarge the methods of lung cancer's therapy, especially for the stage III/IV lung cancer.Methods: Using prospective and retrospective research method, we select 88 lung cancer patients(include metastatic carcinoma) who had been treated by TCM combining with Argon-helium cryoablation during 2003.9 to 2008.1.The state of behavior, quality of life, clinical symptom, life span andTCM syndrome will be analyzed.Results:[1] The evaluation of CT①CT monitoring during surgery: CT value about the focus derogation of 104 cancer focus on 88 patients were obviously decreased. 27 tumors were covered by cryosurgery ice ball that 1cm bigger than the tumor, which could consider to be dispersed completely, account for 24.03%. There are 62 focus of 85% ice covered tumor account for 59.62%;8 cancer focus of 70% ice covered tumor account for 7.69%;7 cancer focus of less than 60% ice covered due to excessive size or close to aorta. Total effective rate in 78 cases is 93.27%.②Curative effect evaluation: According to the WHO's standard ,the effective rate after 3 months,6 months,12 months,18 months,24 months and 36 months was 24.05%,22.81%,18.42%,16%,11.76 and 0%.[2] Karnofsky grade: During 1~6months after cryosurgery, there were obvious improvements. After 6months, the improvement rate began to reduce and the deterioration rate kept on increasing.[3] Quality of life: During 1~6months after cryosurgery, rate of Qol is increased obviously compare with before cryosurgery. After 12months, there were not obvious improvements.[4] The symptoms of cough, chest pain, bloody sputum, lack of strength, shortness of breath and poor appetite were increased after 7days. All the symptoms had obvious improvements after 1month to 3months, but the symptoms of cough, bloody sputum, lack of strength still existed; After 6months to 12months, shortness of breath and poor appetite were increased, others were relieved. But after 12 months, all the symptoms were increased.[5] The main TCM syndrome of lung cancer was the compound of the repletion and deficiency syndrome, With the main manifestation of deficiency syndrome (Qi deficiency and Qi&Yin deficiency), phlegm syndrome (phlegm-heat syndrome and phlegm-moist syndrome ) and blood stasis syndrome. Three days later after surgery, Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency were increased; the phlegm syndrome met a quick and short-time change, manifesting phlegm-heat syndrome increased and phlegm-moist decreased. 2 weeks after surgery, the phlegm and blood stasis syndrome to some extent grew better. Deficiency syndrome had not obvious improvements.[6] Survival time evaluation:①The survival time evaluation after surgery: The survival rate after 3 months,6 months,12 months,18 months,24 months and 36 months was94.23%,74.03%,51.55%,34.83% ,25.75% and 14.71%.The primarily lung cancer survival rate after 3 months,6 months,12 months,18 months,24 months and36 months was 94.81%,72.06%,52.54%,36.62%,27.90% and 17.17%.②Total survival time: There are 56 patients survived more than 1 year,30 cases survived more than 2 years; 18more than 3 years and5 more than 5 years.[7] The treatments were completed on 88 patients without severe side effects.Conclusion:[1] The new therapy method had true curative effect. It has the importance of improving quality of life and extending survival time.[2] Cryotherapy is effective on remarkable dispersion, symptom easing without severe side effects.[3] Qi deficiency, phlegm syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were the main TCM syndrome before and after cryosurgery. TCM can strengthen the body resistance, reduce the side reaction and eliminate the toxic materials.[4] The association of cryosurgery and TCM is a method combine focal treatments with systemic treatments which is worth delivering widely as a new project of lung cancer treatment.