ObjectiveTo understand the latest progress of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)-based combination therapies for unresectable liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and to explore the safe and effective combination therapies in order to controlling the rapid progress of disease and improving the quality of life of patients. MethodsThe literatures about TACE-based combination therapies of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma and the latest advance in researches of this field at home and abroad were collected, and the application of combination therapies, the advantages and features of the combined treatments were reviewed. ResultsTACE was a safe and effective therapeutic modality in treating primary liver cancer or secondary liver cancer.Compared with a single treatment, TACE-based combination therapies had distinct advantages to patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma not only improved the quality of life but also prolonged the survival time.With the emerging of various kinds of new drugs and the rapid development of a variety of interventional treatments, it could bring long-term survival benifit for patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. ConclusionsDoctors should pay attention to the combined treatments of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, improve the knowledge of personalized medication about advanced tumors and actively promote more usage of combination therapies.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Huaier granule combined with systemic chemotherapy on immunologic function and prognosis for advanced breast cancer patients. MethodsNinety-eight cases ofⅣstage breast cancer from March 2006 to March 2009 in this hospital were divided into control group and research group. Only systemic chemotherapy was performed in the control group, while Huaier granule combined with systemic chemotherapy was applied in the research group, and Huaier granule was given on day 1 systemic chemotherapy start. The changes of T lymphocyte subsets and IL-2 level were detected on day 1 before systemic chemotherapy and on month 6 after Huaier granule combined with systemic chemotherapy. The fatality rate and median survival time were also observed between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group, the changes of T lymphocyte subsets and IL-2 level had no signi-ficant differences on day 1 before systemic chemotherapy between these two groups(P > 0.05). On month 6 after Huaier granule combined with systemic chemotherapy, the CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte, and IL-2 level were significantly increased, the CD8+ T lymphocyte was significantly decreased in the research group as compared with the control group〔CD4+:(47.35±6.23)% versus(41.33±5.61)%, P < 0.05; CD4+/CD8+: 1.84±0.42 versus 1.47±0.33, P < 0.05; IL-2 level:(1.78±0.45)μg/L versus(1.58±0.30)μg/L, P < 0.05; CD8+:(23.26±3.25)% versus(29.77±4.12)%, P < 0.05〕. The rate of chemotherapy complications and fatality rate within 3 years were significantly decreased in the research group as compared with the control group〔rate of chemotherapy complications: 58.3%(28/48) versus 86.0%(43/50), P < 0.01; fatality rate within 3 years: 62.5%(30/48)versus 82.0%(41/50), P < 0.05〕. The median survival time in the research group was significantly longer than that in the control group(33.5 months versus 24.5 months, P < 0.01). ConclusionsThe preliminary results from this study show that Huaier granule combined with systemic chemotherapy could greatly enhance immune function, reduce side-toxicity of chemotherapy and improve prognosis in advanced breast cancer patients. It provides a beneficial exploration for cancer treatment by integration of traditional and western medicine.