Effect of Shengbai Decoction on Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression and Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients After Radical Resection: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Myelosuppression is one of the most common chemotherapy-induced adverse events and results in a series of clinical symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Shengbai decoction (SD) on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients after radical resection. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data from 115 patients with stage II-III GC who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection between May 2015 and June 2017 in our hospital. Among these patients, 57 received Shengbai decoction along with adjuvant chemotherapy (SD group), while 58 received adjuvant chemotherapy alone (control group). Medical records, including adverse events, the treatment completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy, 3-year overall survival (OS), and 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), were compared. RESULTS Patient characteristics did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. No adverse events related to Shengbai decoction were reported in the SD group. Patients in the SD group had less neutropenia (P=0.0430), thrombocytopenia (P=0.0323), and anemia (P=0.0497). The SD group had a significantly lower probability of dose reduction (P=0.0448). The completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy of the SD group was considerably higher than that of the control group (P=0.0398). The SD group had a significantly better 3-year RFS (P=0.0369) and 3-year OS (P=0.0455) than the control group. CONCLUSIONS Shengbai decoction effectively improved postoperative survival of patients with GC by alleviating chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and improving the completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Figure 1

Comparison of 3-year recurrence-free survival between the 2 groups. Recurrence was reported in 30 patients (20 from the control group and 10 from the SD group) within the first 3 postoperative years. The SD group had a significantly better 3-year recurrence-free survival than the control group [P=0.0369; hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence, 0.4570; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2232 to 0.9355]. MedCalc software (version 15.2.2, MedCalc Software Ltd.) was used to create the figure.

Figure 2

Comparison of 3-year overall survival between the 2 groups. There were 25 deaths reported (17 from the control group and 8 from the SD group) within the first 3 postoperative years. The SD group had a significantly better 3-year overall survival than the control group (P=0.0455; HR for death, 0.4369; 95% CI, 0.1994 to 0.9575). MedCalc software (version 15.2.2, MedCalc Software, Ltd.) was used to create the figure.