The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether Chinese Herb supplements lead to a measurable improvement in symptoms commonly experienced by patients with advanced stage lung cancer and an improvement in quality of life. In our previously conducted single-arm observational study we found significant improvement in physical well-being, tiredness and drowsiness with no evidence of increased toxicity even in those on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Based on the encouraging results of this study we plan to move to a placebo-controlled study using the same Chinese Herb formula.
Despite advances in the design and administration of anti-cancer therapies over recent years, the overall 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced stage lung cancer is 2-4%. These patients frequently suffer a range of different symptoms related to both their disease and it's treatment. As a result, there is a pressing need for research into treatments that may improve their symptoms as well as their quality of life (QOL). An increasing body of evidence suggests that complementary medicine, including carefully selected combinations of Chinese Herbs (CH), may exert beneficial effects for cancer patients in many ways. The literature suggests that CH combined with chemotherapy can improve survival rates, immediate tumor response, performance status and QOL for those with locally advanced and metastatic disease. The Shu Yu Wan (SYW) formula used in the feasibility study which demonstrated a significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life will also be employed in this interventional study. THe SYW formula consists of 23 natural Chinese herbs. This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio for investigating the efficacy and safety of SYW formula for the treatment of lung cancer symptoms. Patients in both groups will receive formula or placebo at a fixed dose for 6 weeks. After completion of study medication, the treatment will be unblinded and patients randomized to placebo will be offered to cross-over to SYW and will repeat visits Week 0 \& Week 6. Patients will be closely monitored for safety and tolerability throughout the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Shu Yu Wan Formula is a combination of 23 natural chinese herbs.This formula may be used to relieve chemotherapeutic side effects or cancer-related symptoms.
Placebo
Peter Brojge Lung Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Physical Well-Being Scores at Baseline and 6 Weeks
The primary objective is to compare the change in patient reported Physical Well-Being (PWB) subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) questionnaire. The Physical well-being (PWB) subscale has 7 questions with the range of the score from 0 to 4 each. The range of the total score is 0 to 28. The higher the score the better the physical well-being.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Fatigue scores at Baseline and 6 weeks
The secondary objective is to compare change in Fatigue subscale on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy- Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire. Symptoms and health status will be assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-lung (FACT-L), and Functional Assessment for Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F). The FACT-L is a 36-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates quality of life in lung cancer patients. Twenty-nine items measure physical, social, emotional and functional well-being; The final 7 items constitute the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS). The FACIT-F Scale is a short, 13-item, easy to administer tool that measures an individual's level of fatigue during their usual daily activities over the past week. The level of fatigue is measured on a four point Likert scale (4 = not at all fatigued to 0 = very much fatigued).
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
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