OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of decoction for reinforcing lung Qi on T-lymphocytic function, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer after operation with argon helium lancet in order to explore its mechanism.METHODS: A total of 76 patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer without surgical indication were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with decoction for reinforcing lung Qi and argon helium lancet and a control group treated with argon helium lancet only to observe lymphocytic proliferation, detect the percentage of positive cells in the T-lymphocyte CD28 with flow cytometry and detect the expression of IL-2 and TNF-α in peripheral blood with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS: Proliferation of T-lymphocytes and expression of CD28, IL-2 and TNF-α in peripheral blood after treatment in the treatment group were more obviously strengthened than those before treatment and those in the control group (all P