Clinical study on therapeutic efficacy and toxic side effects of radiotherapy combined with puji disinfec-ting drink on advanced esophageal cancer in elderly people

HUANG Li; XIAO Wei; DING Jinquan

Abstract：Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of radiotherapy combined with puji disinfecting drink in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer in elderly people.Methods:A total of 60 elderly patients with ad-vanced esophageal cancer admitted to Ganzhou Tumor Hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were randomly as-signed to either the radiotherapy group(control group)or the radiotherapy combined with puji disinfecting drink group(observation group)using a random number table method,30 cases in each group.The objective remission rate(ORR),progression—free survival(PFS),overall survival(OS),tumor markers,immune function,KPS score,nutritional indi-cators and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The ORR in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).The median PFS in the ob-servation group was 13.33 months,which was higher than that in the control group(10.00 months),with statistical significance(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups of OS(P＞0.05).After treat-ment,the squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9)in both groups were lower than those before treatment,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the levels of SCC and CA19-9 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between CEA and CA125 between the two groups(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in CD4+,CD8+and CD4+/CD8+levels in the control group before and after treatment(P＞0.05).After treatment,the levels of CD4+,CD8+and CD4+/CD8+in the observation group were significantly higher than those before treatment,and CD4+and CD4+/CD8+in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in CD8+level between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,the hemoglobin(Hb)of the control group and the Hb,transferrin(TRF)and albumin(ALB)of the observation group were higher than those before treatment,and the observation group was higher than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the TRF and ALB of the control group were slightly higher than before treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant.The incidence of radiation esophagitis in the observation group was signifi-cantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Radiotherapy combined with puji disinfecting drink can significantly improve the objective remission rate and progression—free survival of elderly patients with advanced e-sophageal cancer,reduce tumor marker levels,attenuate toxic side effects of radiotherapy,and improve immune function and quality of life.