Herbal medicines for advanced colorectal cancer

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012

Publication History Publication Status: New Published Online: 16 MAY 2012 SEARCH ARTICLE TOOLS Abstract Abstract Background Herbal medicine has been widely used in patients with advanced colorectal cancer in China, but its efficacy has not been confirmed.
Objectives To evaluate the beneficial effect and safety on Chinese herbal medicine therapy for advanced stage colorectal cancer, and it's influence on the patients' quality of life.
Manual searching was performed on 16 types of Chinese journals which started from their respective first publication dates, as well as unpublished conference proceedings.
Selection criteria Randomized or quasi-randomised controlled trials on the treatment of advanced stage colorectal cancer by herbal medicines or herbal medicines combined with chemotherapy, regardless of blinding.
Methodological quality of the included in trials was assessed according to the following parameters: randomisation, allocation concealment, double blinding, and drop-out rates.
Main results A total of 20 randomised controlled trials with 1304 participants were identified.
All the 20 trials compared the use of herbal medicines with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced stage colorectal cancers.
Compared with chemotherapy alone, the use of Quxie capsule combined with chemotherapy could decrease mortality rate (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.97); the use of Jianpi Jiedu formula, Xiaozheng formula and Yiqi Huoxue herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy respectively could improve 1-year survival rate significantly; the use of Xiaozheng Formula in conjunction with chemotherapy could improve 3-year survival rate.
Authors' conclusions Some herbal medicines combined chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone showed more beneficial effects in improving 1-year, 3-year survival and quality of life.
Plain language summary Herbal medicines for advanced colorectal cancer Chinese herbal medicines have been used for more than 2000 years .
The use of herbal medicines is prevalent in the treatment of advanced stage colorectal cancers especially in China.