Survival Analysis of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Spleen-invigorating Compound in Patients with Pancreatic cancer

Background Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) is widely used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer in China. In this retrospective study, the authors mainly analyzed the effect of TCHM on the survival time of patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods From 2011 to 2018, 121 pancreatic cancer patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were divided into either the TCHM group or non-TCHM group based on received TCHM or not. TCHM group received three months or more of TCHM treatment on the basis of comprehensive treatment. Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the difference in survival time, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors. Results The overall survival was different between all patients with and without TCHM (P = 0.000), COX analysis showed the clinical staging (P = 0.050), surgery (P = 0.000), chemotherapy (P = 0.000) and TCHM (P = 0.000) were independent prognostic factors. In a stratification analysis of stage for patients who received chemotherapy, there was a significant increase in median overall survival from 10.7 (non-TCHM group) to 19.5 (TCHM group) months (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.197, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.989–5.137, P = 0.000). Patients who did not receive chemotherapy, but best supportive care, there was a significant increase in median overall survival from 4.3 (non-TCHM group) to 15.1 (TCHM group) months (HR = 0.041, 95% CI = 0.005–0.329, P = 0.003). Conclusions TCHM was an important independent prognostic factor of pancreatic cancer and have an effect on improving the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.