Efficacy of Qigui Buxue syrup combined with Buyi Pishen formula in improving cancer-related fatigue in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Bai Lili; Jiang Yue; Hu Zhiwei; Duan Teng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-8157.2025.05.028

Abstract：Objective To explore the effect of Qigui Buxue syrup combined with Buyi Pishen formula on patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)of lung spleen deficiency type and investigating its improving effect on cancer-related fatigue.Methods A total of 124 NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine(TCM)in Hebei Province from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected as the research subjects and divided into two groups using the random number table method.The patients in the control group(n=62)received routine chemotheray and those in the observation group(n=62)were treated with the Qigui Buxue syrup combined with Buyi Pishen formula based on the regimen in the control group.The TCM evidence points,serum tumor markers,immune function,lung function,fatigue and qual-ity of life were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the observation group exhibited significantly lower scores for edema with loose stools,abdominal distension with anorexia,fatigue,chest distress with shortness of breath,and chronic cough with thin sputum((1.45±0.31)points,(1.63±0.43)points,(2.66±0.55)points,(2.61±0.52)points,and(2.34±0.41)points,respectively)as compared with the control group((2.06±0.43)points,(1.87±0.47)points,(2.98±0.47)points,(3.25±0.56)points,and(2.80±0.43)points,respectively).The differences were statistically significant(t=9.061,2.967,3.483,6.594,6.096,all P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group had lower levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC),and cytokeratin 19 fragment(CYR-FA21-1),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)after treatment((24.57±3.50)ng·mL-1,(26.12±3.05)μg·L-1,(30.58±1.71)ng·mL-1,respectively)as compared with the control group((26.58±3.55)ng·mL-1,(32.66±3.21)μg·L-1,and(31.33±1.75)ng·mL-1,respec-tively).The differences were statistically significant(t=3.175,11.630,2.414,all P<0.05).Furthermore,the proportion of CD8+T lymphocyte subset in the observation group after treatment(26.72±6.43)%was significantly lower than that in the control group(28.64±6.81)%(t=2.968,P=0.014).The proportions of CD3+and CD4+T lymphocyte subsets and the CD4+/CD8+ratio in the ob-servation group((74.62±4.33)%,(39.54±3.85)%,and(1.73±0.51),respectively)were significantly higher than those in the control group((71.65±5.43)%,(36.47±4.93)%,and(1.32±0.53),respectively).The differences were statistically significant(t=2.087,3.074,4.136,all P<0.05).The observation group also showed significantly higher levels of forced vital capacity(FVC),maximum voluntary ventilation(MVV),and forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1)after treatment((3.12±0.47)L,(63.60±8.36)L·min-1,and(2.37±0.57)L,respectively)as compared with the control group((2.86±0.42)L,(59.64±7.75)L·min-1,and(2.12±0.51)L,respective-ly),the differences were statistically significant(t=3.248,2.735,2.574,all P<0.05).The scores of each dimension of the Piper Fatigue Scale in the observation group after treatment((5.94±0.57)points,(6.09±0.45)points,(5.76±0.43)points,and(5.89±0.65)points,respectively)were significantly lower than those in the control group((6.15±0.65)points,(6.43±0.52)points,(6.01±0.59)points,and(6.31±0.75)points,respectively)(t=2.885,3.893,2.696,3.332,all P<0.05).The scores of each dimension of the European Or-ganization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(QLQ-30)in the observation group after treatment((76.36±8.39)points,(76.73±7.76)points,(78.86±7.82)points,(79.06±7.74)points,and(76.48±7.79)points,respectively)were sig-nificantly higher than those in the control group((71.83±7.34)points,(71.92±7.49)points,(71.25±7.36)points,(74.37±7.39)points,and(71.64±7.43)points,respectively)(t=3.200,3.512,5.580,3.451,3.540,all P<0.05).There was no statistically significant differ-ence in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(25.81%vs 27.42%,χ2=0.041,P=0.893).Conclusion Qigui Buxue syrup combined with Buyi Pishen formula can effectively reduce the symptoms of lung Qi deficiency in patients with lung qi deficiency type NSCLC receiving chemotherapy,improve the efficacy of chemotherapy,help improve lung function and immune function,reduce the degree of cancer-induced fatigue and improve the quality of life.Meanwhile,it has better safety.