304 cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung receiving no radiotherapy orsurgery were selected and hospitalized and randomly divided into 2 groups for TCM treatment and chemotherapy respectively for prospective observation. 171 cases in the TCM group were treated mainly by methods of nourishing Yin

benefitting Qi

and warming Yang. The survival rates for 1

2. 3

5years after treatment were 60. 94%

36. 27%. 31. 86% and 24. 22% respectively

the median survival period being 417 days

for the 133 cases treated with MOF project

the survival rates for 1. 2

3 years after therapy were 36. 67%

26. 79%

24. 56% respectively

with no survivor after 5 years

while the median surival period being265 days. The difference between the 2 groups was significant. The rates of stability of the 2 groups were 67. 83% and 48. 12% respectively. The median stable period were 6 months and 3 months respectively. For improvement of symptoms

body weight gaining and general health condition after treatment

the TCM group was also better. The immuno-logical indices in TCM group after treatment were all better than pre - treatment for several exams

while that for the chemotherapeutic group revealed no marked difference. Serum sialic acid and contents of serum inhibiting factor were all decreased

suggesting that the TCM therapy improved the immune function of such cases.