Objective:To investigate the effect of maintenance treatment by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation on life quality and progress-free survival (PFS) of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy. Method: Seventy-six patients with NSCLC were randomly divided into observation group and control group (n=39 each). The two groups were treated with first-line chemotherapy for 4 to 6 weeks. The control group was regularly followed-up. The observation group was received TCM syndrome differentiation treatment. Follow-up data about PFS was analyzed

besides

life quality and clinic symptom of patients before and 12 weeks after treatment were evaluated. Result: After treatment

physical function

role function

emotional function and total life quality in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Fatigue

dyspnoea

insomnia and appetite loss scores in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). PFS of observation group was (7.2±1.32) months

which was longer than (4.4±0.57) months of control group (P<0.01). Scores of cough

phlegm

blood in phlegm

shortness of breath

chest pain

lassitude

anorexia

insomnia and others in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Maintenance treatment by TCM syndrome differentiation on patients with advanced NSCLC can improve life quality and clinic symptom

and prolong PFS of patients.