Efficacy and safety of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in advanced pancreatic cancer: A double-center retrospective cohort study.
[BACKGROUND] Advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) is associated with a poor prognosis.
APA
Wang YR, Wang JQ, et al. (2026). Efficacy and safety of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in advanced pancreatic cancer: A double-center retrospective cohort study.. World journal of gastrointestinal oncology, 18(2), 114690. https://doi.org/10.4251/wjgo.v18.i2.114690
MLA
Wang YR, et al.. "Efficacy and safety of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in advanced pancreatic cancer: A double-center retrospective cohort study.." World journal of gastrointestinal oncology, vol. 18, no. 2, 2026, pp. 114690.
PMID
41695916
Abstract
[BACKGROUND] Advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) is associated with a poor prognosis. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) has shown promising clinical efficacy. Nonetheless, the existing body of research assessing the efficacy and safety of this integrative approach is limited, hindering the provision of robust evidence-based support for clinical decision-making.
[AIM] To assess the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of ICWM compared with Western medicine (WM) as a standalone treatment for advanced PC.
[METHODS] We enrolled 136 patients with advanced PC admitted to Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Henan Provincial People's Hospital from 2019 to 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to the ICWM or WM group ( = 66 or = 70, respectively) according to treatment modality. The long-term efficacy was evaluated using survival analyses. Short-term efficacy was assessed by analyzing the tumor response, serum tumor markers, and immune function before and after treatment. Treatment safety was assessed by monitoring bone marrow suppression and hepatic and renal function impairment.
[RESULTS] The median overall survival was 12.91 months and 10.64 months in the ICWM and WM groups, while the median progression-free survival was 5.12 months and 3.55 months, respectively. The disease control rate was significantly higher in the ICWM group than that in the the WM group, while the myelosuppression was significantly milder. The serum tumor markers carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and CA125 showed a significant downward trend before and after treatment in the ICWM group, whereas only CA19-9 showed a significant decrease in the WM group. Post-treatment, both groups showed an upward trend in natural killer cells and CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes compared with pre-treatment, with the ICWM group exhibiting a more pronounced increase. The two groups showed no significant differences in hepatic and renal function impairment.
[CONCLUSION] ICWM extended survival in patients with advanced PC, improved long-term efficacy, controlled local lesions, reduced serum tumor markers, enhanced immune function, and improved short-term outcomes, with a favorable safety profile.
[AIM] To assess the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of ICWM compared with Western medicine (WM) as a standalone treatment for advanced PC.
[METHODS] We enrolled 136 patients with advanced PC admitted to Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Henan Provincial People's Hospital from 2019 to 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to the ICWM or WM group ( = 66 or = 70, respectively) according to treatment modality. The long-term efficacy was evaluated using survival analyses. Short-term efficacy was assessed by analyzing the tumor response, serum tumor markers, and immune function before and after treatment. Treatment safety was assessed by monitoring bone marrow suppression and hepatic and renal function impairment.
[RESULTS] The median overall survival was 12.91 months and 10.64 months in the ICWM and WM groups, while the median progression-free survival was 5.12 months and 3.55 months, respectively. The disease control rate was significantly higher in the ICWM group than that in the the WM group, while the myelosuppression was significantly milder. The serum tumor markers carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and CA125 showed a significant downward trend before and after treatment in the ICWM group, whereas only CA19-9 showed a significant decrease in the WM group. Post-treatment, both groups showed an upward trend in natural killer cells and CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes compared with pre-treatment, with the ICWM group exhibiting a more pronounced increase. The two groups showed no significant differences in hepatic and renal function impairment.
[CONCLUSION] ICWM extended survival in patients with advanced PC, improved long-term efficacy, controlled local lesions, reduced serum tumor markers, enhanced immune function, and improved short-term outcomes, with a favorable safety profile.