Abstract:
Objective To investigated the efficacy and safety of Xiaoyan decoction combined with capecitabine and bevacizumab for the maintenance treatment in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods At the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a retrospective analysis was conducted for 120 advanced CRC patients who had completed first-line standard chemotherapy and entered maintenance therapy from January 2016 to December 2021. The treatment group (n=60) was treated with Xiaoyan decoction plus capecitabine and bevacizumab, whereas the control group (n=60) was treated with capecitabine and bevacizumab. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were evaluated.
Results No significant difference in baseline characteristics was observed between the two groups. The treatment group experienced significantly prolonged PFS (10.9 months vs. 9.2 months, P=0.03), but no significant benefit was seen in OS (21.2 months vs. 19.4 months, P=0.87). Xiaoyan decoction was able to improve the symptoms of fatigue (P=0.01), vomiting (P=0.01), and abdominal distension (P=0.02) and reduce the severity of the adverse reactions of vomiting (P=0.04) and diarrhea (P=0.02).
Conclusions Xiaoyan decoction combined with capecitabine and bevacizumab can significantly improve PFS in advanced CRC patients, reduce gastrointestinal adverse reactions, and provide good safety.