Clinical study on treatment of rectal carcinoma with Chinese herbal medicine and high dose fluorouracil emulsion via rectal infusion

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of rectal infusion of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plus high dose fluorouracil emulsion in treating rectal carcinoma. METHODS: The 86 patients of rectal carcinoma were randomly divided into CHM plus chemotherapy group and single chemotherapy group, and the changes of T‐lymphocyte cell subset, natural killer (NK) activity, pathologic picture and clinical symptoms were analysed statistically before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the single chemotherapy group, the CD3 cell and NK activity decreased after treatment and most of the peri‐carcinoma cellular infiltration were in grade I. In the CHM plus chemotherapy group, the CD3, CD4/CD8 and NK activity restored and CD8 lymphocyte decreased markedly after treatment in comparing with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and most of the peri‐carcinoma cellular infiltration concentrated in grade III. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy alone could suppress cellular immune function significantly, significant immunoregulation and improvement of symptoms (as mucous‐bloody stool, frequent defecation) could be obtained by combination therapy of CHM and chemotherapy.