Fuzheng-Buyi formula for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The study was designed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng-Buyi formula in treating castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Methods: A computer-based search were conducted in the databases, including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, EMbase, and the Cochrane database to identify all randomized controlled trials. The studies investigating the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng-Buyi formula combined with Western medicine for the treatment of CRPC were included from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2023. The quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook manual, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and R Studio 4.2.3 software.

Results: In this study, a total of 18 trials were included, encompassing a population of 1093 patients diagnosed with CRPC. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the combination of Fuzheng-Buyi formula and Western drugs was more effective in increasing the overall efficacy rate (risk ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.17, 1.46], P < .00001), decreasing Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score (mean difference [MD] = -4.40, 95% CI [-6.10, -2.70], P < .00001), and quality of life scale (physiological condition MD = -2.31, 95% CI [-3.13, -1.48], P < .00001; social well-being MD = 1.26, 95% CI [0. 59, 1.94], P = .0002; emotional well-being MD = -2.04, 95% CI [-2.96, -1.12], P < .00001; functional well-being MD = -3.18, 95% CI [2.11, 4.26], P < .00001; others should be paid to MD = -3.15, 95% CI [-4.93, -1.37], P = .0005) compared with the Western medicine alone. And the incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the combination treatment group compared with Western medicine group (risk ratio = 0.58, 95% CI [0.46, 0.73], P < .00001).

Conclusion: The combination of Fuzheng-Buyi formula and Western medicine was more effective in improving the clinical efficacy and quality of life of CRPC patients, with lower incidence of adverse events compared with Western medicine alone.