Therapeutic Effect of Elemene Combined with Chemoradiotherapy and Its Influence on Immune Function in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Abstract

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of elemene emulsion injection combined with chemoradiotherapy and its effect on immune function in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Methods Random number method was used to divide the patients into control group (IMRT+fluorouracil+cisplatin) and observation group (IMRT+fluorouracil+cisplatin+elemene injection 500 mg/d). We evaluated the short-term efficacy, the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and adverse reactions. Results All patients successfully completed the treatment. There was statistically significant difference between control group and observation group in the total effective rate (71.74% vs. 82.61%, P < 0.05), CD8+ level in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (31.35±2.39 vs. 34.37±1.97, P < 0.05), the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (1.37±0.03 vs. 0.98±0.18, P < 0.05), and the quality of life (57.2±7.4 vs. 60.3±5.3, P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the observation group had lower hematological toxicity and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ skin reactions, and the incidence of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ gastrointestinal reactions (nausea, vomiting) was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Conclusion Elemene combined with chemoradiotherapy could improve the quality of life of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions and obtain a better prognosis.

Keywords

• elemene injection
• chemoradiotherapy
• nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• immune function