ArticleChinese medicine2022
A pilot randomized placebo-controlled study on modified MaZiRenWan: a formulated Chinese medicine to relieve constipation for palliative cancer patients.
Article in Chinese medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02795390 (Chinese and Western Medicine Collaborative Studies on Palliative Cancer Patients With Constipation), which is not on this map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Chinese and Western Medicine Collaborative Studies on Palliative Cancer Patients With Constipation
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effect of indirect moxibustion with the treatment of Ma Ren Pill on patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with constipation.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Prophylactic laxative use for postoperative constipation in urological cancer: a real-world cohort study.World journal of urology · 2025Article
- Matching traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine-based research: Advanced nutraceutical development for proactive gastric cancer prevention.World journal of gastrointestinal oncology · 2024Review
- Current Characteristics of Herbal Medicine Interventions for Cancer on Clinical Databases: A Cross-Sectional Study.Integrative cancer therapiesReview
- Synergistic and Additive Effects of Herbal Medicines in Combination with Chemotherapeutics: A Scoping Review.Integrative cancer therapiesArticle
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundConstipation is a common problem among advanced cancer patients; however, many of them find limited effective from current therapies. Thus, we aimed to test the effect of a traditional Chinese herbal formula, modified MaZiRenWan (MZRW), by comparing with placebo among palliative cancer patients with constipation.
methodsThis is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants aged over 18 were recruited and randomized to MZRW or placebo group in addition to current prescriptions (including ongoing laxatives treatment) for two weeks. Exclusion criteria included cognitive impairment, presence of a colostomy or gastrointestinal obstruction and estimated life expectancy of less than one month. Individualized modification of MZRW was allowed according to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern of patient. The primary outcome was the global assessment of improvement, which reflected whether the constipation had improved, remained the same or worsened.
resultsSixty patients, with mean age 75.2 years (range 47-95 years), were randomized to MZRW or placebo group. Among the MZRW group, 59.3% (16/27) had improvement in the global assessment score, as compared with 28.6% (8/28) of the placebo group (p-value = 0.022). Besides, the MZRW group had significant increase in stool frequency, and reduction in constipation severity and straining of defecation (p-value < 0.05). No serious adverse event was reported due to the research medication.
conclusionThis pilot trial suggests modified MZRW is well-tolerated and effective for relief of constipation in patients with advance cancer. It could be considered as a potential treatment option for constipation in palliative care.
trial registrationThe trial had been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier number NCT02795390 [ https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02795390 ] on June 10, 2016.
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