Objective: To study methods of treatment for advanced cancers.
Methods: From January 1996 to March 1997, 60 patients with advanced cancers whose life expectancy was 3-6 months were randomly divided into two groups. The method of radiotherapy was the same in the two groups, with a dose of DT50Gy/25f/5wk for intra-abdomanal cancers while DT60Gy/30f/6wk for those in the other regions. In the combination treatment group, in addition to radiation, interventional therapy with chemotherapeutic drugs, biological response modifiers or Chinese medicinal herbs was employed.
Results: The response rate, mean remission period, median survival time and 1-year survival rate in the combination treatment group was 98.3%, 7.4 months, 11 months and 46.7%, respectively. All these were significantly different from those in the group of patients treated with radiation alone. (63.6%, 4.7 months, 6.5 months and 6.7%, respectively, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Radiotherapy combined with intervention treatment can prolong the survival time and improve quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.