RESUMO
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 less than 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 less than 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.