Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the supportive effect of Thai herbal medicine, Vilac Plus (G716/45) on standard palliative radiotherapy in advanced stage IIIB-IV lung cancer compare with history control from the literature reports.

Patients and Methods

Thirteen patients in advanced lung cancer stage IIIB-IV with poor performance status were treated by palliative radiotherapy in adjuvant with the Thai herbal tonic solution (Vilac Plus G716/45).

Results

Thirteen patients (8 male, 5 female) in advanced stages lung cancer with poor performance status, stage IIIB 11 cases, stage IV 2 cases. Median age 66 years (range 44.4-83 years). The pathological diagnosis were 5 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 2 cases of adenocarcinoma and 4 cases of clinically advanced lung cancer as of evidenced by computed tomography chest scan/chest X-ray. The results of treatment 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy revealed 76.92% (10/13 cases) of clinically improvement and 23.08% (3/13 cases) of clinically stable. Overall response rate was 46,15% (6/13) of partial response and 53.85% (7/13 cases) had shown stable diseases. Patterns of failure were found to be locally progressing 46.15% (6/13 cases) at the primary site, 30.77% (4/13 cases) at the locoregional, 23.08% (3/13 cases) at the locoregional with distant metastases. Median follow-up time is 18 months (range 7-50 months). Clinical benefit rate, evaluated at ≤ 15 months was 72.72%. However the median survival period analysis required longer follow-up and more detail assessment.

Conclusion

The results of this study are promising in the aspect of good quality of life and preferable because of the cost effectiveness to be used as an adjuvant for radiotherapy.