Modified Pingwei Baohe decoction improves postoperative recovery in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a major global health issue, especially in East Asia. Radical gastrectomy, the primary treatment, often leads to complications like malnutrition and infection, impairing recovery. Traditional Chinese medicine may offer benefits in regulating gastrointestinal function and immunity. This study investigated the effects of a modified Pingwei Baohe decoction (MPBD) on postoperative immune function and nutritional status in gastric cancer patients.

AIM: To explore the influence of MPBD on the postoperative immune function and nutritional status of patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

A total of 55 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical proximal gastrectomy in Hebei Provincial People's Hospital and The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2023 to June 2025 were selected as the research objects and divided into the observation group (28 cases, receiving chemotherapy plus MPBD) and the control group (27 cases, receiving chemotherapy alone) at a ratio of 1:1 according to the random number table method. Inflammatory indicators, immune function, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal function recovery time were compared before and 28 days after intervention.

RESULTS

After 28 days, the observation group showed significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-4, IL-2, IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and proportion of CONUT score > 2, alongside significantly higher levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), lymphocyte percentage (LYM%), and TNF-α/IL-4 ratio compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In both groups, post-intervention levels of the aforementioned inflammatory markers, NLR, and proportion of CONUT score > 2 were significantly lower than baseline, while the immune parameters (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, ALC, LYM%, TNF-α/IL-4 ratio) were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Additionally, gastrointestinal function recovery times (first flatus, bowel sounds recovery, abdominal distension relief) in the observation group were significantly shorter than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MPBD significantly enhances postoperative immune function, mitigates inflammatory responses, improves nutritional status, and accelerates gastrointestinal function recovery in gastric cancer patients.