Shenmai Injection Combined with Systemic Chemotherapy Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Effect on TNF-α in Serum

Objective:To evaluate the response rate in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),who were treated with Shenmai injection plus gemcitabine and cisplatin(GP combined group)or single GP(chemotherapeutic group) and to compare the levels of TNF-α in serum of the patients before and after treatment.Methods:A total of 50 patients with stages III and IV NSCLC were randomly assigned into two trial groups:25 patients in combined group(Shenmai injection 50mL added into 250mL of 5% glucose injection for intravenous infusion on d1-10,gemcitabine 1000mg/m2 for intervenous drop infusion for 30min on day 1 and 8,cisplatin 25mg/m2 for intravenous infusion for 2h on day 1 to 3,every 3 weeks these therapies were reused.The control group was only given GP regimen alone.2 cycles was an evaluating period.The concentrations of the NF-α level in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively in patients with NSCLC before and after treatment.Results:The response rate in combined group(CR+PR)was 44%;in the chemotherapeutic group was 36%.There was no significant difference between two groups(χ2=0.33,P=0.56).The disease control rate in combined group(CR + PR + SD) was 84 %;in the chemotherapeutic group was 60%.Disease control rate of the two groups were significantly different(χ2=3.87,P=0.049).The adverse reaction of the combined group was significantly fewer than that of the chemotherapeutic group(*P0.05).The TNF-α levels in serum of two groups were significantly decreased after treatment(P0.05),and the range of decline in the combined group was more apparent(P=0.016).In ineffective patients,the TNF-α levels in serum was also significantly decreased in combined group(P=0.013),but not in the combined group(P=0.097).Conclusions:The regimen of Shenmai injection combined with chemotherapy can significantly reduce the TNF-α levels in serum of patients with advanced NSCLC,improve disease control rates,reduce the adverse reaction of chemotherapy,and improve patients' quality of life.