Clinical observation of sarcandra glabra combined chemoradiotherapy for treating patients with local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To observe the short-term efficacy and radiotherapy induced acute reactions of sarcandra glabra (SG) combined chemoradiotherapy for treating patients with local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Totally 100 nasopharyngeal carcinoma phase III - IVa patients were randomly assigned to the control group and the observation group, 50 patients in each group. All patients received chemoradiotherapy. Patients in the observation group took SG decoction at the daily dose of 20 g. RESULTS: Totally 98 patients completed the treatment. There was no statistical difference in the complete remission rate, the partial remission rate, 1-year and 2-year total survival rates, or disease free progression rate between the two groups. The occurrence rate of II - III degree radioactive oral mucositis and dry mouth were obviously lower in the observation group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: SG combined chemoradiotherapy could attenuate radiotherapy induced acute adverse reactions in treating advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.