Title : Effectiveness of curcuma and snakehead fish (channa striata) extract supplementation on CD8+ enhancement in Patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, with most patients diagnosed at an advanced stage requiring systemic chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may impair the immune system, including the activity and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+), which play a crucial role in antitumor immunity. Curcuma and snakehead fish extract possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties that may improve immune responses in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This reasearch evaluated the effectiveness of Curcuma and snakehead fish extract supplementation on CD8+ levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: This experimental study with a control group involved 50 patients with NSCLC undergoing chemotherapy in Medan. Subjects were divided into an intervention group receiving Curcuma and snakehead fish extract supplementation and a control group receiving standard therapy. CD8+ lymphocyte levels were assessed before chemotherapy and after two cycles of chemotherapy. Statistical analyses were performed to compare changes in CD8+ levels between the two groups, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the intervention and control groups. Following two cycles of chemotherapy, the intervention group demonstrated a tendency toward higher CD8+ levels compared with the control group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that supplementation with Curcuma and snakehead fish extract during the study period did not produce a significant improvement in CD8+ levels among NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Administration of Curcuma and snakehead fish extract for two cycles of chemotherapy was not associated with a significant increase in CD8+ levels in patients with NSCLC. Further studies involving larger sample sizes, longer intervention periods, and more comprehensive immunological biomarker assessments are required to clarify the potential benefits of this supplementation.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Curcuma, Channa striata, CD8+, chemotherapy, immunomodulation.

Dr. Rahmat Hidayat is a pulmonologist specializing in respiratory medicine and thoracic oncology. He continues the study in Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia, with clinical interests in lung cancer, bronchoscopy, chemotherapy, and translational oncology research. His current research focuses on complementary therapies to improve immune response and reduce chemotherapy-related toxicities in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.