Ming-Hsien Yeh1, Hsien-Chang Wu2, Nai-Wei Lin3, Jin-Jian Hsieh4, Jin-Wen Yeh3, Hung-Pin Chiu5, Mei-Chun Wu5, Tzung-Yi Tsai6, Chia-Chou Yeh7, Te-Mao Li8. 1. Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Dalin, Chiayi, 62247, Taiwan; School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan. 2. Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, 23142, Taiwan; School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan. 3. Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Minxiong, Chiayi, 621, Taiwan. 4. Department of Mathematics, National Chung Cheng University, Minxiong, Chiayi, 621, Taiwan. 5. Department of Information Management, Nanhua University, Dalin, Chiayi, 62249, Taiwan. 6. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, 2 Minsheng Road, Dalin Township, Chiayi, 62247, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, 880 Chien-Kuo Road Section 2, Hualien, 62247, Taiwan. Electronic address: dm732024@tzuchi.com.tw. 7. Department of Chinese Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Dalin, Chiayi, 62247, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, 2 Minsheng Road, Dalin Township, Chiayi, 62247, Taiwan; School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan. Electronic address: yehcc0530@gmail.com. 8. Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: leedemaw@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We explored the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on the long-term survival of lung cancer patients and hazard ratio (HR) and to analyse CHM herbs and formulas for lung cancer treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on diagnosed lung cancer patients in 2003-2016 from Taipei and Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital Cancer Registry Database and from outpatient database from Chinese Medicine and Conventional Medicine Department. We categorised the patients into CHM user and CHM nonuser groups according to the CHM consumption time. After passing the proportional hazard assumption, we used the Cox PH model to calculate the groups' survival hazard ratio (HR) and examine the statistical difference and effect of CHM on lung cancer survival. RESULTS: We classified 2557 lung cancer patients into 1643 CHM nonusers and 228 CHM users. The CHM users had lower mortality than the CHM nonusers. With the multivariable Cox model, we observed that the CHM use was associated with 35% lower risk of mortality (adjusted HR: 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.76). Continuous CHM use of >180 days may further lessen the mortality risk by 64%. Finally, eight herbs and two formulas could significantly lower the mortality. After pairing the eight herbs for analysis, seven combinations could reduce the mortality better than only using one herb. CONCLUSION: CHM users had significantly lower mortality than CHM nonusers. The longer the CHM use, the more the mortality HR declined. Glehnia littoralisF. Schmidt ex Miq., Polyporus umbellatus(Pers.) Fries and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. possess a highly substantial anticancer activity compared with other herbs.
BACKGROUND: We explored the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on the long-term survival of lung cancerpatients and hazard ratio (HR) and to analyse CHM herbs and formulas for lung cancer treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on diagnosed lung cancerpatients in 2003-2016 from Taipei and Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital Cancer Registry Database and from outpatient database from Chinese Medicine and Conventional Medicine Department. We categorised the patients into CHM user and CHM nonuser groups according to the CHM consumption time. After passing the proportional hazard assumption, we used the Cox PH model to calculate the groups' survival hazard ratio (HR) and examine the statistical difference and effect of CHM on lung cancer survival. RESULTS: We classified 2557 lung cancerpatients into 1643 CHM nonusers and 228 CHM users. The CHM users had lower mortality than the CHM nonusers. With the multivariable Cox model, we observed that the CHM use was associated with 35% lower risk of mortality (adjusted HR: 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.76). Continuous CHM use of >180 days may further lessen the mortality risk by 64%. Finally, eight herbs and two formulas could significantly lower the mortality. After pairing the eight herbs for analysis, seven combinations could reduce the mortality better than only using one herb. CONCLUSION:CHM users had significantly lower mortality than CHM nonusers. The longer the CHM use, the more the mortality HR declined. Glehnia littoralisF. Schmidt ex Miq., Polyporus umbellatus(Pers.) Fries and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. possess a highly substantial anticancer activity compared with other herbs.