Qingyihuaji formula prolongs overall survival time in patients with pancreatic cancer: A retrospective analysis

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is recognized for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Despite advancements in therapeutic approaches, the survival time for PC patients remains short. Consequently, there is a pressing need for innovative strategies to enhance outcomes and prolong the survival of individuals afflicted with PC. This study explores the impact of Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ), a Chinese herbal medicine, on the survival duration of PC patients. We conduct a retrospective analysis of a 15-year cohort (2002–2017), comprising 2,986 PC patients who received QYHJ treatment. Patients were categorized based on the duration of QYHJ therapy: those treated for more than three months ( n = 1,452; 48.6 %) and those treated for less than three months ( n = 1,534; 51.4 %). Statistical methods were employed to evaluate survival outcomes, and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the influence of clinical parameters on QYHJ's efficacy. Patients who underwent QYHJ treatment for over three months exhibited a significantly extended median survival time, surpassing 12 months. Additionally, the three-year survival rate increased from 1.63 % to 8.82 % in this group. Comparatively, QYHJ's protective effect was on par with surgical resection and exceeded the benefits with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Subgroup analyses revealed that the efficacy of QYHJ was not affected by various clinical parameters, including age, gender, CA199 level, primary tumor site, metastasis status, and concurrent treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical intervention. The retrospective analysis underscores that QYHJ treatment for a duration exceeding three months significantly enhances the survival time of PC patients, independent of major clinical characteristics. These findings suggest that QYHJ could serve as a promising adjunctive treatment for PC, with the potential to be integrated into existing therapeutic protocols. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these results and facilitate the incorporation of QYHJ into standard PC treatment regimens.