[Effect of chang'ai kangfu decoction on immunity in postoperational patients with large intestine cancer]

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effect of Chinese drug Chang'ai Kangfu decoction (CAKF) on immunity in post-operational patients with large intestine cancer (LIC).

Methods: Forty-eight patients with LIC in Dukes' B, C stage after operation were randomly assigned to 3 groups, the CAKF group (16 cases), chemotherapy group (17 cases) and combination therapy (CAKF plus chemotherapy) group (15 cases). 5-FU and mitomycin C were given to the chemotherapy group. The dynamic changes of T-lymphocyte subsets, NK cells and immunoglobulins were investigated.

Results: Before operation, the CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and the activity of NK cells in LIC patients were lower, but CD8+ was higher than that of normal level (P < 0.01), which indicated that cellular immunity in LIC was in immunosuppressive state, they all further reduced 1 week after operation, particularly CD3+ cell counts, but CD3+, CD4+ and the activity of NK cells normalized 1 month after operation in CAKF group, and 2 months were needed to normalize in combination therapy group. Both groups recovered to a certain extent in comparing with before treatment, but the chemotherapy group recovered slower. The similar results appeared in humoral immunity.

Conclusion: CAKF could obviously increase the immunity in LIC patients after operation.