Efficacy and Safety of Fuzheng Yiqi Kang-Ai Decoction Combined with External Irradiation in the Treatment of Undifferentiated Thyroid Carcinoma and Its Influence on Antiangiogenesis

Abstract

Objective. To explore the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Yiqi Kang-ai (FZYQKA for short) decoction with external irradiation in the treatment of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (UTC) and its influence on antiangiogenesis. Methods. In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 120 patients with UTC admitted to Zibo Central Hospital (February 2019-February 2020) were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were equally divided into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) according to the order of admission. All patients received external irradiation, and the EG received FZYQKA decoction additionally. FZYQKA decoction was taken orally 1 dose daily in 3 times with a total of 100 ml, for a total of 2 months. Short-term efficacy, incidence of acute radiotoxic responses, levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), indexes of immune function, and level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were compared between both groups. Results. Compared with the CG, the disease control rate of the EG was obviously higher (73.3% vs. 40.0%, $P<0.001$ ). The acute radiotoxic responses of the two groups were mainly grade I-II oral mucositis, radiodermatitis, pharyngitis, esophagitis, and myelosuppression, and only three patients (5.0%) had grade III-IV toxic reactions. Compared with the CG, the incidence of grade I-II oral mucositis, radiodermatitis, pharyngitis, and esophagitis in the EG was obviously lower ( $P<0.05$ ). After treatment, compared with the CG, levels of MMPs and VEGF of the EG were obviously lower ( $P<0.001$ ). After treatment, compared with the CG, indexes of immune function of the EG were obviously higher ( $P<0.001$ ). Conclusion. For patients with UTC, FZYQKA decoction combined with external irradiation can exert the antiangiogenesis effect, reduce levels of MMPs, and optimize the short-term efficacy. The safe treatment method has mild toxic and side effects, which should be popularized in practice.