A clinical study of traditional Chinese medicine prolonging the survival of advanced gastric cancer patients by regulating the immunosuppressive cell population: A study protocol for a multicenter, randomized controlled trail

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a common high-mortality disease, causing a serious social burden. Traditional Chinese medicine has been utilized to prevent and treat GC for many years but its effects remain unclear. The aim of our study is to elucidate the anti-tumor effects and the possible mechanism of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng decoction. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial continuing 1.5 years. Two hundred ten eligible patients will be randomly divided into 2 groups, the chemotherapy alone and the chemotherapy combined with JPYZXZ group at a ratio of 1:2. All patients will receive the treatment for 24 weeks and follow up for 1.5 years. The primary outcomes are one-year survival rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS), while the secondary outcomes are immune related hematology test, objective response rate, tumor makers, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome points, fatigue scale, and quality of life scale. All of these outcomes will be analyzed at the end of the trail. DISCUSSION: This study will provide the objective evidence for the efficacy and safety of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng decoction in advanced GC. Furthermore, it will be helpful to form a therapeutic regimen in advanced GC by the combination of traditional medicine and western medicine. Trail registration: ChiCTR1900028147