Chinese herb “destagnation” series I: Combination of radiation with destagnation in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (npc): a prospective randomized trial on 188 cases

The results of a prospective randomized trial on 188 patients with NPC is reported to evaluate the validity of Chinese herbal medicine-Destagnation combined with radiotherapy. Ninety patients were allotted to the Destagnation group (radiation plus Destagnation) and 98, to the control group (radiation only). The 5-year success rate (number surviving minus number recurred but salvaged by re-treatment) of the Destagnation group is 53% ( 48 90 ) in comparison to 37% ( 36 98 ) of the control group ( p < 0.05). Minor complications of Destagnation included occasional anorexia and frequency of bowel movement. The reduced rate of local recurrence at the primary site in the Destagnation group ( 14%− 13 90 ) as compared to that of the control group ( 29%− 28 98 ) ( p < 0.05) suggests that Destagnation may be a radiosensitizer. The similar metastatic rates in both groups; 21% ( 19 90 ) in the Destagnation group and 21% ( 21 98 ) in the control group may refute the belief that Destagnation enhances hematogenous spread.