Effects of Fufang Banmao Capsule Associated with Sorafenib on Liver Function, Immune Status, Quality of Life Improvement, and Survival in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was carried out to explore the influences of Fufang Banmao capsule (FBC) associated with sorafenib on liver function, immune status, life quality, and survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: During January 2019 to October 2021, in our hospital, the clinical data of 144 patients with advanced HCC treated were collected and measured retrospectively. The patients were cured with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the control group, and the patients were cured with FBC associated with sorafenib in the observation group. The clinical effect, liver function index, humoral immunity index (IgG, IgM, and IgA), cellular immunity index (CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, and CD8), tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), and life quality were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Regarding the therapeutic effects, the observation group had CR4, PR 48, SD 18, and PD2; the total remission rate was 97.22%. There were 2 individuals with CR, 32 with PR, 22 with SD, and 16 with PD in the observation group. 77.79% of the total remissions occurred. The total remission rate in the observation group was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A comparison of liver function index levels before and after treatment was done. As a result of treatment, the levels of AST, ALT, and TBIL lessened. In addition, the levels of AST, ALT, and TBIL in the observation group were lower as well, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the control group, the levels of serum IgG, IgM, and IgA were lower after treatment than before treatment, but in the observation group, the levels were higher. Additionally, the levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA were higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). With regard to the cellular immune indexes, compared to those before treatment, the CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 of the patients in the control group were lower, CD8 was higher, while CD3, CD4, and CD4/CD8 in the observation group were higher, CD8 was lower, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). AFP and CA199 levels lessened after treatment in the control group, indicating that the markers were reducing tumor growth, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The value of CEA lessened, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was a marked decrease in AFP, CEA, and CA199 serum levels in the observation group compared to those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After treatment, the contents of AFP, CEA, and CA199 in the observation group were lower, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In terms of the life quality after treatment, 36 patients (50.00%) had augmented KPS score and 38 patients (52.78%) had augmented ZPS score in the observation group, which was noticeably higher compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The progression-free survival (PFS) of the observation group was 31.67 months (95% confidence interval was 0.09657∼0.3019), and the PFS of the control group was 26.73 months (95% confidence interval was 3.313∼10.36). The PFS time of the observation group was noticeably longer, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FBC associated with sorafenib can noticeably strengthen the clinical effect of patients with advanced HCC, enhance the liver function and immune function of patients with advanced HCC, accelerate the speed of rehabilitation and ease clinical symptoms, reduce the level of tumor markers, strengthen the quality of life, and prolong the survival time of patients.