Positive Role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Immune Regulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (07) ◽  
pp. 1577-1592
Author(s):  
Sumei Wang ◽  
Shunqin Long ◽  
Zhiyin Deng ◽  
Wanyin Wu
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Immune Regulation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) plays a critical role in treating cancer patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the main component of CAM. TCM, especially Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM), has been increasingly used in China, some other Asian countries and European countries. It has been proven to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted-therapy, and immunotherapy. It lessens the damage caused by these therapies. CHM functions on cancer by inhibiting tumor progression and improving an organism’s immune system. Increasing evidence has shown that many CHM exert favorable effects on the immune regulation. We will summarize the role of CHM on patient’s immune system when treating cancer patients. Our evidence reveals that single herbs, including their extracts, compound formulations, and preparations, will provide current advances on CHM study, especially from the perspective of immune regulation and novel insights for CHM application in clinic. The main herbs used to treat cancer patients are health-strengthening (Fu-Zheng) herbs and pathogen eliminating (Qu-Xie) herbs. The key mechanism is regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Firstly, health-strengthening herbs are mainly functioned as immune regulatory effectors on cancer. Secondly, some of the compound formulations mainly strengthen the health of patients by regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Lastly, some Chinese medicine preparations are widely used to treat cancer for their properties of spiriting vital energy and anti-cancer effects, mainly by improving immunity. CHM plays a positive role in regulating patients’ immune system, which helps cancer patients to fight against cancer itself and finally improves patients’ life quality.

scholarly journals Utilization of and Attitudes towards Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies in a Chinese Cancer Hospital: A Survey of Patients and Physicians

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. McQuade ◽  
ZhiQiang Meng ◽  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Qi Wei ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Chinese Cancer Patients

Background. In China, the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is very popular, but little is known about how it is integrated with conventional cancer care. We conducted parallel surveys of patients and physicians on TCM utilization.Methods. Two hundred forty-five patients and 72 allopathic physicians at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center completed questions on their use of and attitude towards TCM.Results. Patient mean age was 51, with 60% female. Eighty-three percent of patients had used TCM. Use was greatest for Chinese herbal medicine (CHM; 55.8%). Only 1.3% of patients used acupuncture and 6.8% Qi Gong or Tai Qi. Sixty-three percent of patients notified their oncologist about TCM use. The most common reason for use was to improve immune function. CHM was often used with a goal of treating cancer (66.4%), a use that 57% of physicians agreed with. Physicians were most concerned with interference with treatment, lack of evidence, and safety. Ninety percent of physicians have prescribed herbs and 87.5% have used TCM themselves.Conclusion. The use of TCM by Chinese cancer patients is exceptionally high, and physicians are generally well informed and supportive of patients’ use. Botanical agents are much more commonly used than acupuncture or movement-based therapies.

scholarly journals Survival Benefit of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (A Herbal Formula for Invigorating Spleen) in Gastric Cancer Patients with Peritoneal Metastasis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zhao ◽  
Ai-Guang Zhao ◽  
Gang Zhao ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Xiao-Hong Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Peritoneal Metastasis ◽  
Herbal Formula ◽  
First Line ◽  
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Gastric Cancer Patients

Objective.We evaluated the efficiency of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (a compound herbal formula for invigorating spleen) as a complementary and alternative therapy for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis.Methods.Between 2001 and 2012, 93 gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis were enrolled in this study. The effect of traditional Chinese herbal medicine on their long-term outcome was investigated. Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the difference in survival time, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors.Result.First-line palliative chemotherapy plus traditional Chinese herbal medicine was performed in 47 patients and the other 46 patients received chemotherapy alone. The overall survival was different between patients with and without traditional Chinese herbal medicine (12.0 versus 10.5 months;P=0.046). According to the Cox proportional hazard model, first-line chemotherapy cycle (hazards ratio [HR] = 0.527; 95% CI = 0.323~0.860) and TCHM (hazards ratio [HR] = 0.644; 95% CI = 0.481~0.992) were selected as independent prognostic factors for survival.Conclusion.The results suggest that traditional Chinese herbal medicine could improve the prognosis of the gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine for Reducing Chemotherapy-Associated Side-Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sha Li ◽  
Tsz-him So ◽  
Guoyi Tang ◽  
Hor-Yue Tan ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal

BackgroundChemotherapy usually induces a variety of side-effects in cancer treatment as it cannot tell normal cells apart from cancer cells and kills both. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been regarded as a potential effective intervention for relieving the side-effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.ObjectiveThis study aims to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of CHM as adjuvant therapy for reducing the chemotherapy-induced side-effects in the treatment of breast cancer.MethodsMain electronic databases were searched up to May 2020 for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of CHM on breast cancer patients with chemotherapy. The PRISMA statement was adopted in this study and meta-analyses were performed.ResultsThe included studies showed unsatisfied quality. Results based on available literature indicated that the adjunctive use of CHM with chemotherapy may reduce the chemotherapeutic agents-associated adverse events, including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia, myelosuppression, and impaired immune function.ConclusionA confident conclusion could not be have due to the lack of large scale and high quality trials.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine Effectively Prolongs the Overall Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Patients: A Case Series

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541982883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Wong ◽  
Bing Zhong Chen ◽  
Allyson Kin Yan Lee ◽  
Adrian Ho Cheung Chan ◽  
Justin Che Yuen Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Background and Aims: Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers (4%), and it accounts for 1.9% of new cancer cases in Hong Kong. Combined treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and Western medicine has yielded promising results, leading to improved prognosis and overall survival. This retrospective case series aimed to illustrate the improved survival and quality of life outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients administered CHM based on traditional Chinese medicine theory. Methods: To investigate the effectiveness of CHM in prolonging overall survival, 182 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer who received CHM treatment were observed from 2005 to 2015. Results: One hundred eighty-two pancreatic cancer patients were treated with CHM; 21 patients died. The mean and median survival of these patients were 29.6 and 15.2 months, respectively; the 1-year survival rate was 76% (range = 4 months to 9 years). These results are better than those reported in patients treated with Western medicine, suggesting the need for further study of CHM. Conclusion: A superior clinical outcome may be obtained with CHM treatment. The case series illustrates the potential benefits and safety issues of CHM in pancreatic cancer patients that could be relevant for developing strategies to increase individualization of pancreatic cancer treatment and improve survival. This study may facilitate interprofessional communication and improved clinical management of pancreatic cancer patients.

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