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Clinical and Translational Oncology

Published in:

01-05-2019 | Research Article

Efficacy of Huaier granule in patients with breast cancer

Authors: Y. Zhang, X. Wang, T. Chen

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 5/2019

Abstract

Background

Huaier extract has been demonstrated to exhibit potent anti-tumor effects in various types of cancer cells. However, the clinical benefit of Huaier granule in breast cancer has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Huaier granule in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Our study included 284 breast cancer patients treated with or without Huaier granule between January 2005 and October 2016 at Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China. Retrospective data obtained included demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), serum concentrations of tumor markers, the Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), and incidences of emotional symptoms. DFS was the main outcome measure.

Results

Of the patients included, 144 were classified into the control group and 140 into the Huaier group. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the study arms. Median DFS was 91.43 months for control group and 112.61 months for Huaier group (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57–5.61, p < 0.01). After Huaier granule treatment, the serum levels of tumor markers could be reduced to the normal range. In addition, breast cancer patients with Huaier granule treatment had higher KPS scores and less emotional symptoms.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that patients orally administrated Huaier granule got longer DFS. Furthermore, Huaier granule could reduce serum tumor markers, improve the functional status, and decrease the incidences of emotional symptoms in breast cancer patients. Therefore, Huaier granule was an effective therapy for women with breast cancer.

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Title: Efficacy of Huaier granule in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Y. Zhang
X. Wang
T. Chen
Publication date: 01-05-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 5/2019
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-018-1959-4

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