Objective To observe the short-term effects of Bazhen Tang combined with chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer on the middle and advanced stage. Methods Ninety patients with esophageal cancer in the middle and advanced stage were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group

45 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with precise radiotherapy

once a day

five days a week; at the same time

they were all given paclitaxel as chemotherapy

30 mg / m

2

the first day

and it was repeated every week for six cycles in all. Meanwhile in addition

the treatment group was given Bazhen Tang

one dose daily for six weeks. In the fourth week after completing radiotherapy

the short-term effects in the two groups were observed. Before and after treatment

KPS score and simplified Chinese version quality of life assessment form（ QLQ-C30） were used to evaluate quality of life

cellular immune function（ including CD4

+

CD8

+

CD4

+

/ CD8

+

） was detected

and toxic and side effects（ including radioactive esophagitis

hepatorenal functional lesion

radioactive pneumonia and myelosuppression） were Observed. Results The effective rate about the short-term effects was 82. 2% in the treatment group and 62. 2% in the control group. The short-term effect in the treatment group was better than those in the control group（ P

<

0. 05）. After treatment in the treatment group

KPS score was higher than that before treatment

but QLQ-C30 score reduced and was better than that in the control group after treatment（ P

<

0. 05）. After treatment

the levels of CD4

+

and CD4

+

/ CD8

+

in the control group were much lower

but level of CD8

+

increased than those before treatment（ P

<

0. 05）. While in the treatment group there were no statistical differences in

levels of CD4

+

CD4+/CD8

+

and CD8

+

between before and after treatment（ P

>

0. 05）. In the treatment group

the incidence rates of radioactive esophagitis

hepatorenal functional lesion

radioactive pneumonia and myelosuppression were lower than those in the control group（ P

<

0. 05）. Conclusion In the treatment of esophageal cancer on the middle and advanced stage

Bazhen Tang combined with chemoradiotherapy may relieve toxic and side effects of chemoradiotherapy

enhance body’s immune function and improve short-term effects and quality of life.