Objective: To systematically review the attenuating effects of invigorating Pi (Spleen) and eliminating dampness (Jianpi Qushi, JPQS) herbs on post-operational colorectal cancer patients receiving FOLFOX4 [5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + folinic acid + oxaliplatin] treatment.
Methods: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases (up to May 2014) were searched in English or Chinese, and clinical trials with specifific inclusion criteria were collected. Data were analyzed by using Stata 12.
Results: The meta-analysis comprised 8 randomized clinical studies of 449 patients (238 in the treatment group and 211 in the control group). The results showed that JPQS herbs could improve the quality of life for post-operational colorectal cancer patients receiving FOLFOX4 [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 8.883, 95% confifidence interval (CI): 5.548 to 12.217]; alleviate the symptoms defifined by Chinese medicine [odds ratio (OR) = 5.741, 95% CI: 3.683 to 8.947]; and reduce the incidence rate of neutropenia [relative risk (RR) = 0.669, 95% CI: 0.503 to 0.888], decreased hemoglobin (RR = 0.654, 95% CI: 0.464 to 0.922), diarrhea (RR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.275 to 0.662), nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.502, 95% CI: 0.390 to 0.648), and neurotoxic reactions (RR = 0.752, 95% CI: 0.595 to 0.951); however, the results showed no signifificant difference in the incidence rate of thrombocytopenia or liver and kidney dysfunction.
Conclusion: JPQS herbs can improve the quality of life for patients undergoing FOLFOX4 treatment after colorectal cancer surgery, relieve symptoms, and somewhat reduce the adverse effects of FOLFOX4 regimen.
Keywords: Chinese medicine; FOLFOX4; Jianpi Qushi; colorectal cancer; invigorating Pi (Spleen) and eliminating dampness; meta-analysis.