Clinical significance of phlegm detoxification on survival with tumor in advanced NSCLC patients based on the phlegm-poison theory

Objective To explore the effect of phlegm detoxification on the short-term curative and long-term survival with tumor in qi phlegm-poison type or yin phlegm-poison type patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From August 2015 to July 2016, 207 advanced NSCLC patients, including 116 patients with qi phlegm-poison type and 91 patients with yin phlegm-poison type, were collected and divided into control group with western medicine treatment (n=80) and treatment group (n=127) with Yiqi Huatan Jiedu Decoction (for qi phlegm-poison type) or Yangyin Sanjie Decoction (for yin phlegm-poison type). After 4 courses of treatment, the short-time efficacy, TCM syndrome scores, Karnofsky scores were evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier curve were performed. Results There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the control group (45.00%) and the treatment group (51.97%, χ²=0.954, P=0.329). The response rates of patients in treatment group with qi phlegm-poison party or yin phlegm-poison party were 89.55% and 83.33%, respectively, higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The TCM syndrome score and Karnofsky score were gradually decreased, and lower than before treatment and control group (all P<0.05). The survival rate (OS) of patients in treatment group with qi phlegm-poison type were 49.25%, higher than that in control group (all P<0.05), while the OS of patients in treatment group with yin phlegm-poison type were 61.67%, there was no difference with control group (P=0.080). Conclusion Based on the phlegm-poison theory, phlegm detoxification would improve TCM syndrome and promote the life quality of NSCLC patients with qi phlegm-poison type and yin phlegm-poison type. Meanwhile, Yiqi phlegm jiedu decoction can prolong the survival with tumor of patients of qi phlegm-poison type.