Prognostic analysis of 190 elderly patients with pancreatic cancer treated by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy based on Qingyi Huaji (QYHJ) formula (for clearing the pancreas and dissolving the stasis) in the elderly patients with pancreatic cancer by a retrospective study and to explore a feasible treatment modality for this disease.Methods The data of 190 elderly pancreatic cancer patients (≥ 60 years) , who received integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy from January 2002 to December 2008, were retrospectively reviewed.These patients were assigned to receive QYHJ formula or non- QYHJ formula.The Kaplan- Meier method was used for calculating survival rates, and the log- rank test was used for survival difference analysis;multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model.Results The 1-, 3-, and 5- year survival rates of the 190 patients were 28.42%, 6.32%, and 2.11%, respectively, and the median survival was 6.7 months.The QYHJ group (n = 102) had a significantly longer median survival than the non- QYHJ group (n = 88) (8.7 months vs 4.7 months, P < 0.05) .For the elderly patients with pancreatic cancer, KPS < 80, CA19- 9≥500 U / ml, weight loss (≥10% within six months) , and liver metastasis were poor prognostic factors, while radical surgery, systemic chemotherapy, and QYHJ formula were favorable prognostic factors.Conclusion Radical surgery, systemic chemotherapy, and QYHJ formula are protective factors for long- term survival in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer.Combination therapy with chemotherapy and QYHJ formula is suitable for elderly patients with stage Ⅲ pancreatic cancer, while herbal formula combined with the optimal symptomatic and supportive treatment are suitable for those with stage Ⅳ pancreatic cancer.