Background: Cancer is an important health problem in Thailand and all over the world. Cancer patients usually receive standard treatments, which causes adverse events. The advanced-stage cancer patients may not be responsive to treatments; therefore, supportive or palliative care is usually required. Canacea is a traditional medicine consisting of herbs with antioxidant and antimutagenic activities.

Objective: To determine the efficacy, quality of life (QoL), and safety of Canacea in advanced-stage cancer patients.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand between January 2020 and March 2022. All patients received Canacea with supportive care medications. The performance status, pain control, and QoL were measured 24 weeks after Canacea treatment by using The Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG), the Palliative Performance Status (PPS), the pain score, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief - Thai (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI), respectively.

Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the present study. The average age was 64.29±9.14 years, with eleven males and six females. At 24 weeks, the average pain score was 0.33±0.47 (range of 0 to 1) which was mild pain. The average ECOG and PPS were 1.7±0.75 (range of 1 to 3) and 70±18.26% (range of 40 to 90), respectively, which reflected a stable health status. The total QoL score from WHOQOL-BREF-THAI was 94.5±8.44 (range of 78 to 105), which reflected a moderate-to-high QoL. The safety outcome was monitored throughout the study using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Eleven patients developed adverse events, with four patients who had to withdraw from Canacea (23.53%).

Conclusion: The treatment of Canacea with other supportive care showed a moderate-to-high score of pain control, health status, and QoL. Particularly, the total QoL showed an improvement after 24 weeks of treatment and the patients tended to have a better QoL.

Received 8 June 2023 | Revised 17 April 2024 | Accepted 22 April 2024

DOI:10.35755/jmedassocthai.2024.6.13998