Effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Quality of Life and Immune Function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Stasis Syndrome Undergoing Chemotherapy:A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Quality of Life and Immune Function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Stasis Syndrome Undergoing Chemotherapy:A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Traditional Chinese MedicineVol. 67, Issue 12, Pages: 1289-1296(2026)
ZHAN Wenhao,DING Qian,DONG Zhiwei,et al.Effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Quality of Life and Immune Function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Stasis Syndrome Undergoing Chemotherapy:A Randomized Controlled Trial[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2026,67(12):1289-1296.
ZHAN Wenhao,DING Qian,DONG Zhiwei,et al.Effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Quality of Life and Immune Function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Stasis Syndrome Undergoing Chemotherapy:A Randomized Controlled Trial[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2026,67(12):1289-1296.DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.12.009.
Effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Quality of Life and Immune Function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Stasis Syndrome Undergoing Chemotherapy:A Randomized Controlled Trial
To observe the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on quality of life and immune function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods
2
Seventy NSCLC patients with
qi
deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, with 35 cases in each group. The control group received chemotherapy combined with routine symptomatic treatment, while the intervention group additionally received heat-sensitive moxibustion since the first day of chemotherapy. Acupoints included Dazhui (GV14), bilateral Feishu (BL13), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), and Guanyuan (CV4). The site exhibiting the strongest heat-sensitization response was selected for moxibustion. Treatment was administered for 45 minutes per session, three times weekly for three consecutive weeks, totaling nine sessions. Before and after treatment, quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores were evaluated. Peripheral blood levels of natural killer (NK) cells and T-lymphocyte subsets including CD3
+
, CD4
+
, and CD8
+
, and CD4
+
/CD8
+
ratio were measured. Levels of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), including PD-1⁺CD4⁺ and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ cells, were also assessed. Liver and renal function were monitored before and after treatment, and adverse events were recorded.
Results
2
In the intervention group, 1 participant withdrew and 1 was excluded, while in the control group, 2 participants withdrew. Ultimately, 33 participants in each group were inclu
ded in the final analysis. The intervention group showed significant improvements in physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, as well as global health status after treatment, while scores for fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, appetite loss, diarrhea, and TCM syndrome scale were significantly decreased (
P
<0.05). Moreover, the intervention group demonstrated higher scores in physical functioning, role functioning, and global health status, as well as lower scores for fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, appetite loss, diarrhea, and the TCM syndrome scale than the control group (
P
<0.05). After treatment, the levels of peripheral NK cells and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in the intervention group increased significantly; furthermore, the intervention group exhibited higher peripheral NK cell levels and lower PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cell levels than the control group (
P
<0.05). No significant differences were found in liver or renal function between the two groups (
P
>0.05). In addition, no adverse events such as burns or moxibustion-induced syncope occurred during the study.
Conclusion
2
Heat-sensitive moxibustion as an adjunctive therapy may enhance immune function, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve quality of life, while demonstrating a favorable safety profile in NSCLC patients with
qi
deficiency and phlegm stasis.
关键词
Keywords
references
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