Clinical study on treatment of rectal carcinoma with Chinese herbal medicine and high dose fluorouracil emulsion via rectal infusion

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of rectal infusion of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plus high dose fluorouracil emulsion in treating rectal carcinoma. METHODS: The 86 patients of rectal carcinoma were randomly divided into CHM plus chemotherapy group and single chemotherapy group, and the changes of T-lymphocyte cell subset, natural killer (NK) activity, pathologic picture and clinical symptoms were analysed statistically before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the single chemotherapy group, the CD3 cell and NK activity decreased after treatment and most of the peri-carcinoma cellular infiltration were in grade I. In the CHM plus chemotherapy group, the CD3, CD4/CD8 and NK activity restored and CD8 lymphocyte decreased markedly after treatment in comparing with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and most of the peri-carcinoma cellular infiltration concentrated in grade III. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy alone could suppress cellular immune function significantly, significant immunoregulation and improvement of symptoms (as mucous-bloody stool, frequent defecation) could be obtained by combination therapy of CHM and chemotherapy.