Luo, Y., Feng, M., Fan, Z., Zhu, X., Jin, F., Li, R., . . . Lang, J. (2016). Effect of Kangfuxin solution on chemo/radiotherapy-induced mucositis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: A multicenter, prospective randomized phase III clinical study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016, 8692343.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kangfuxin solution, a pure Chinese herbal medicine, on mucositis induced by chemo/radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
The treatment patients gargled three times a day after each meal. Patients were monitored from the first day of chemotherapy or radiotherapy until the emergence of grade 3 oral mucositis or when the patients finished the entire course of radiotherapy using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 3.0. Oral mucositis and pain were measured according to guidelines.
Randomized, parallel-group clinical trial
Kangfuxin solution reduced the incidence of all levels of mucositis, especially high-grade mucositis, to improve patients' tolerance to radiation, ensuring the continuity of radiotherapy. So, it demonstrated its superiority to compound borax gargle on mucositis induced by chemo/radiotherapy.
Kangfuxin solution effectively prevented chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis, reduced the incidence of upper gastrointestinal inflammation, and decreased the severity of oral pain compared with compound borax gargle. It improves the quality of life in patients. Additional research to confirm the effects is warranted.