Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Changfufang（ 肠复方） in treating advanced colorectal cancer. Methods Sixty advanced colorectal cancer were randomized into treatment group and control group with 30 patients in each group. Another 10 healthy people were set as the normal group. The control group was given symptomatic and supportive care

in addition to which the treatment group was administered Changfufang with one dose per day. The treatment and follow-up period was 1 year. After 1-year follow-up

half-year and one-year survival rates were calculated. The peripheral blood of the normal group was collected

peripheral blood of the treatment group and the control group before treatment as well as at the second month of treatment. Expression of peripheral cytokeratin 20（ CK20） mRNA was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and telomerase activity was detected by immunosorbent assay. At the end of the second month of treatment

the tumor control rate was evaluated by CT examination; the time to progression was observed after treatment. Results After two months of treatment

the tumor control rates of the treatment group and the control group were 66. 67% and 26. 67%

respectively with significant difference（ P =0. 002）. The expressions of peripheral CK20 mRNA and telomerase in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group（ P < 0. 01）. At the second month of treatment

the expressions of peripheral CK20 mRNA and telomerase in the treatment group decreased significantly（ P < 0. 01）

while those in the control group increased significantly（ P < 0. 01）

and those in the treatment group was significantly lower than those in the control group（ P < 0. 01）. The time to progression in the treatment group was significantly longer than that in the control group（ P < 0. 01）. The one-year survival rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group（ P = 0. 022）. Conclusion Changfufang seems to be effective in treating advanced colorectal cancer

it could improve the tumor control rate

prolong the time to progression

improve long-term survival benefit

and reduce the expressions of peripheral telomerase and CK20 mRNA.