Objective: To observe the clinical effects of Babaodan Capsule (, BBD) combined with Qingyi Huaji Formula (, QYHJ) in treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Methods: Eighty-one patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014) were enrolled. Patients were assigned to two groups: QYHJ plus BBD group (40 cases) and QYHJ only group (41 cases), and there were no significant differences for other treatment between two groups. The survival and cancer-related symptoms were compared between two groups over two cycles of treatment.
Results: The cancer-related symptoms of patients such as ascites, jaundice, pain, abdominal distension, anorexia and Karnofsky performance status of QYHJ plus BBD group were significantly improved as compared with those of the QYHJ group (P<0.01). In addition, the 1-year survival rate of patients in QYHJ plus BBD group was longer than that in the QYHJ group (65% vs. 33%, respectively, P=0.0023).
Conclusions: BBD with QYHJ is feasible treatment to prolong the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. However, it deserves to be further investigated in randomized clinical trials.
Keywords: Babaodan Capsule; Chinese medicine; Qingyi Huaji Formula; advanced pancreatic cancer.