Objective

2

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Wendan Decoction combined with megestrol acetate in the treatment of cancer-related anorexia with spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome， and to explore an integrated protocol combining Chinese and Western medicine for cancer-related anorexia.

Methods

2

A total of 67 patients with cancer-related anorexia with the spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome were randomly assigned to either a control group （

n

=34） or an observation group （

n

=33）. The control group received treatment with megestrol acetate dispersible tablets， while th

e observation group received the same treatment in addition to modified Wendan Decoction. Both groups were treated for 28 days. Clinical efficacy was assessed， and changes in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire （EORTC QLQ-C30） scores， as well as traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， were compared. A safety evaluation was also conducted.

Results

2

①The total effective rate in the observation group and the control group was 100% and 82.4%， respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant （

P

<

0.05）. ②Intra-group comparisons before and after treatment showed that， in the observation group， scores for role function， emotional function， and overall health status increased on the EORTC QLQ-C30， while scores for fatigue， pain， and nausea/vomiting difficulty decreased （

P

<

0.05）. In the control group， scores for overall health status increased， while scores for fatigue， pain， and nausea/vomiting decreased （

P

<

0.05）. Inter-group comparisons after treatment revealed statistically significant differences in role function， emotional function， fatigue， and nausea/vomiting （

P

<

0.05）. ③Intra-group comparisons before and after treatment showed that， in the observation group， scores for symptoms such as epigastric fullness， poor appetite， bitterness or stickiness in the mouth， belching and acid regurgitation， and constipation significantly decreased （

P

<

0.05）； in the control group， scores for poor appetite also decreased （

P

<

0.05）. Inter-group comparisons after treatment showed that the observation group had significantly lower scores for epigastric fullness， poor appetite， bitterness or stickiness in the mouth， belching and acid regurgitation， and constipation than the control group （

P

<

0.05）. ④No significant adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients during

the trial.

Conclusions

2

Treatment with the combination of modified Wendan Decoction and megestrol acetate dispersible tablets is more effective than using megestrol acetate alone in treating cancer-related anorexia with the spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome. This combined treatment more effectively alleviates indigestion-related symptoms， improves patients' quality of life， and demonstrates good safety.