Preliminary efficacy and safety of Reishi & Privet Formula on quality of life among non–small cell lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial Journal Article


Authors: Liu, J.; Mao, J. J.; Li, S. Q.; Lin, H.
Article Title: Preliminary efficacy and safety of Reishi & Privet Formula on quality of life among non–small cell lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial
Abstract: Background: Cancer patients often experience decreased quality of life during chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the preliminary efficacy and safety of Reishi & Privet Formula (RPF) for maintaining quality of life among patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: We conducted a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in China. Adults with NSCLC scheduled to receive chemotherapy were randomly assigned (3:1 ratio) to receive oral RPF (3.36 g/day) or placebo daily for 6 weeks. The main outcome was the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung (FACT-L). We evaluated RPF’s safety profile using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and assessed changes in outcome measures from baseline to weeks 3 and 6 using a linear mixed effects model. Results: We enrolled 82 participants across 8 cancer centers in China. The median age was 59 years, 56 (68%) had advanced cancer. Compared with the placebo group, the RPF group had nonstatistically significant higher quality of life as measured by the FACT-L total score (P =.086) over 2 cycles of chemotherapy. The RPF group was associated with a nonsignificant better general health (P =.050) and emotional well-being (P =.090) than the placebo group. Adverse events rates did not differ between groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrated preliminary safety and suggests a promising trend in RPF’s effect on maintaining quality of life and emotional well-being among NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy. Future adequately powered randomized-controlled trials are needed to verify the efficacy and safety of RPF in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. © The Author(s) 2020.
Keywords: chemotherapy; quality of life; traditional chinese medicine; herbs; non–small cell lung cancer; randomized placebo-controlled trial; reishi & privet formula
Journal Title: Integrative Cancer Therapies
Volume: 19
ISSN: 1534-7354
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2020-01-01
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/1534735420944491
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 32840126
PMCID: PMC7450289
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 September 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jun J Mao
    244 Mao
  2. Qing Susan Li
    82 Li
  3. Jie Liu
    3 Liu