Molecular mechanism and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer(PCa)is one of the most common malignant tumors in the male genitourinary system,ranking second in incidence worldwide.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as an important component of complementary and alternative medicine,shows unique advantages in cancer treatment.Chinese herbal medicine is usually composed of multiple ingredients and involves multiple signaling pathways,which showed function of inducing apoptosis of cancer cells,arresting the cell cycle,inhibiting invasion and metastasis,reducing drug resistance,and regulating immune function.Physical therapy is also an important treatment of TCM.Currently,Physical therapy such as acupuncture or Tai Chi and Qigong are gaining increased recognition in the management of PCa,particularly in addressing issues like urinary incontinence and bone metastasis-related pain.This article reviews the TCM treatment and therapy of PCa,in order to provide new research avenues and treatment options for the treatment of PCa with TCM and improve the quality of life of patients.

Matching traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine-based research:Advanced nutraceutical development for proactive gastric cancer prevention

Gastric cancer(GC),the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally,is complex and heterogeneous.This review explores multidisciplinary investigations of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)combined with Western medical practices,emphasizing the development of nutraceuticals for cancer prevention.Using advanced analytical chemistry and food chemistry techniques,this study investigated how TCM components may be optimized for nutraceutical development.Focusing on molecular interactions with GC pathways,particularly the NF-κB,PI3K/Akt,and Wnt/β-catenin pathways,we examined the effects of TCM polyherbal formulas,extracts,and isolated compounds.These agents modulate apoptosis and cellular proliferation,underscoring their potential in preventive strategies.The convergence of nutraceutical and medicine food homology studies highlights a significant shift towards integrating TCM-derived compounds in a preventive health framework.This approach aims not only to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects but also to champion a preventive paradigm using personalized medicine to advance proactive health maintenance and disease prevention.The combination of TCM and western medical practices offers promising avenues for future research and practical applications in GC prevention.

Modern technology-based exploration of mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of gastric cancer

This review comments on the article“To explore the mechanism of Yigong San anti-gastric cancer and immune regulation”.We are interested that the article applied network pharmacology and bioinformatics techniques to elucidate the mechanism of action of Yigong Sang,a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),in the treatment of gastric cancer(GC).The mechanism of action of Yigong Sang in the treatment of GC has not yet been elucidated because it is composed of multiple Chinese medicines with multiple components and multiple targets.The emergence of network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis helps explain the mechanism of action of TCM in preventing and treating GC,and provides a possibility for TCM to transform from empirical to evidence-based medicine.This is of great significance for the application of TCM in oncology,new drug development,formula optimization,and the improvement of clinical efficacy.

Promise and challenges of traditional Chinese medicine,specifically Calculus bovis,in liver cancer treatment

Liver cancer,one of the most common malignancies worldwide,ranks sixth in incidence and third in mortality.Liver cancer treatment options are diverse,inclu-ding surgical resection,liver transplantation,percutaneous ablation,transarterial chemoembolization,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeted therapy,immuno-therapy,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).A multidisciplinary team(MDT)is essential to customize treatment plans based on tumor staging,liver function,and performance status(PS),ensuring individualized patient care.Treatment decisions require a MDT to tailor strategies based on tumor staging,liver function,and PS,ensuring personalized care.The approval of new first-line and second-line drugs and the establishment of standard treatments based on immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly expanded treatment options for advanced liver cancer,improving overall prognosis.However,many patients do not respond effectively to these treatments and ultimately succumb to the disease.Modern oncology treatments,while extending patient survival,often come with severe side effects,resistance,and damage to the body,negatively impacting quality of life.Huang et al's study published at World Journal of Gastroenterology rigorously validates the anticancer properties of Calculus bovis,enhancing our understanding of TCM and contributing to new liver cancer treatment strategies.For over 5000 years,TCM has been used in East Asian countries like China to treat various diseases,including liver conditions.Analysis of real-world clinical data suggests that for patients with advanced-stage tumors lacking effective treatments,integrated TCM therapies could provide significant breakthroughs.

Quality of life and survival analyses of breast cancer cases treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

BACKGROUND Breast cancer(BC)is the second leading cause of tumor-related mortality after lung cancer.Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge to progress in BC treatment,warranting further exploration of feasible and effective alternative therapies.AIM To analyzed the quality of life(QoL)and survival of patients with BC treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine(TCM-WM).METHODS This study included 226 patients with BC admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between February 2018 and February 2023,including 100 who received conventional Western medicine treatment(control group)and 126 who received TCM-WM treatment(research group).The total effective rate,side effects(alopecia,nausea and vomiting,hepatorenal toxicity,and myelosuppression),QoL assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire(EORTC QLQ-C30),1-year overall survival(OS),recurrence and metastasis rates,and serum inflammatory factors[interleukin(IL)-6,IL-10,and tumor necrosis factor alpha]were comparatively analyzed.RESULTS The research group showed statistically better overall efficacy,EORTC QoL-C30 scores,and 1-year OS than the control group,with markedly lower side effects and 1-year recurrence and metastasis rates.Moreover,the posttreatment levels of serum inflammatory in the research group were significantly lower than the baseline and those in the control group.CONCLUSION Overall,TCM-WM demonstrated significantly improved therapeutic efficacy while ensuring drug safety in BC,which not only improved patients’QoL and prolonged survival,but also significantly inhibited the inflammatory response.

Screening and immune infiltration analysis of ferroptosis-related genes in pancreatic cancer with predictions for traditional Chinese medicine treatments

Background:This study aims to explore the involvement of ferroptosis-related genes and pathogenesis in pancreatic cancer and predict potential therapeutic interventions using Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).Methods:We utilized gene expression datasets,ferroptosis upregulated genes and applied machine learning algorithms,including LASSO and SVM-RFE,to identify key ferroptosis-related genes in pancreatic cancer.Perform Gene Ontology,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes,and Disease Ontology enrichment analysis,immune infiltration analysis and correlation analysis between immune infiltrating cells and characteristic genes on differentially expressed genes using the R software package.Retrieve potential traditional Chinese medicine for targeted ferroptosis gene therapy for pancreatic cancer through Coremine and Herb databases.Results:Seventeen feature genes were identified,with significant implications for immune cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer.The results of immune cell infiltration analysis showed that B cells naive,B cells memory,T cells regulatory,and M0 macrophages were significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer patients;Mast cells resting were significantly downregulated.Chinese herbal medicines such as ginkgo,turmeric,ginseng,Codonopsis pilosula,Zedoary turmeric,deer tendons,senna leaves,Guanmu Tong,Huangqi,and Banzhilian are potential drugs for targeted ferroptosis gene therapy for pancreatic cancer.Conclusion:TIMP1 emerged as a key gene,with several TCM herbs predicted to modulate its expression,offering new avenues for treatment.

Application of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the prevention and treatment of swine viral infectious diseases

This study aims to explore the current application status and development prospects of Chinese herbal medicine in preventing and treating swine viral infectious diseases over the past five years.By adopting the method of literature review,we collect,organize,and analyze relevant research literature,with the goal of summarizing and summarizing the research progress in this field.Through research,we found that swine infectious diseases have caused serious economic losses in the breeding industry and that some diseases cannot be fully protected by using vaccines.Therefore,we need new means to prevent diseases.The use of Chinese herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of related diseases has become a reliable means.This study first briefly introduces the common infectious diseases of pigs and the risks and challenges faced by prevention and treatment,then reads the literature comparing the treatment with Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine,proving the reliability of traditional Chinese medicine treatment and the unique advantages of Chinese herbal medicine.Afterwards,we summarized the literature on the prevention and treatment of related swine diseases with Chinese herbal medicine in the past five years,and finally made a summary and outlook,hoping to provide ideas for relevant researchers and workers.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in colorectal cancer treatment:a bibliometrics study and visualization analysis via CiteSpace

Objective:To evaluate the current state of research and areas of interest for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the field of colorectal cancer treatment.Methods:Related papers published between January 1,2012,and November 27,2021,were found using the Web of Science Core Collection Science Citation Index Expanded.Using CiteSpace's network map generation capability,we then determined the top writers,organizations,countries,keywords,co-cited writers,journals,references,and research trends.Results:This investigation yielded a total of 336 relevant papers.China is the most productive country.Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the leading institution.The journal with the most popularity and publishing volume is Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.The author with the most citations and centrality is Lin JM.The terms"epithelial-mesenchymal transition,""cell cycle arrest,""apoptosis,"and"autophagy"are highly frequent and have a high betweenness centrality.Conclusion:According to the results,research on natural products,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)extracts,and the molecular mechanisms of TCM chemical constituents constitutes the primary focus within TCM cancer treatment investigations.In recent years,there has been a surge of interest in exploring the role of gut microbiota in TCM chemical constituents research,particularly in its ability to induce apoptosis and autophagy in tumor cells,thereby suppressing tumor cell proliferation,metastasis,and invasion.However,due to the intricate composition of TCM and existing technical limitations,the underlying principles guiding TCM's efficacy in treating colorectal cancer remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Analysis of the law of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal reaction caused by lung cancer chemotherapy

Objective:To explore the law of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal reaction after chemotherapy for lung cancer.Methods:The literatures on prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal reaction after chemotherapy with Chinese medicine were searched from CNKI,Wanfang and VIP databases from the establishment of the database to September 2020.After screening,the database was established,and data mining was conducted by using IBM SPSS statistics 20.0 and IBM SPSS modeler 18.0 to summarize the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal reaction after chemotherapy for lung cancer.Results:(1)A total of 131 literatures involving 245 traditional Chinese medicines were included for data mining;(2)High frequency drugs include Astragalus membranaceus,liquorice,Poria cocos,Atractylodes macrocephala,Pinellia ternata,Codonopsis pilosula,Ophiopogon japonicus,coix seed,Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae,Radix Glehniae and so on;(3)The traditional Chinese medicine used is mainly tonifying deficiency medicine,resolving phlegm and relieving cough and asthma medicine,diuresis and dampness medicine,heat clearing medicine and antiphlogistic medicine.The medicine tastes bitter and sweet,and has cold and warm properties.The meridian tropism involves liver,lung,stomach,spleen and kidney;(4)Seven core TCM combinations were obtained by cluster analysis,and 24 drug pairs(groups)were obtained by association rule analysis.Conclusion:Through the data mining of traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal reaction after chemotherapy for lung cancer,we can find out the potential rules of traditional Chinese medicine prescription,and clarify the core Chinese medicine,which is helpful to provide certain reference for the development and research of drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal reaction and modern clinical practice.

Prevention and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for elderly patients with colorectal cancer

As China's population ages, the incidence of colorectal cancer in the elderly has increased. At present, colorectal cancer depends on surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Due to the characteristics of the elderly, postoperative recovery is slow, prone to postoperative complications and difficult to tolerate radiotherapy and chemotherapy have become the main problem hindering the disease. Based on the theory of prevention, the use of drugs from the perspective of constitution and etiology can prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer in the elderly. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy can alleviate adverse reactions and improve treatment efficacy. TCM with surgical treatment can reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications and promote postoperative recovery. For patients with advanced colorectal cancer, TCM can play a role in fighting cancer and improving the quality of life of patients. For patients in stable phase, TCM can prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis.

The differences and similarities between regional ethnic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of cancer pain

REM and TCM are both important parts of traditional medicine in China,and they have their own characteristics in the understanding and prevention of diseases.This article compares the understanding,the theoretical prevention and treatment guidance and the clinical application of the REM and TCM on the cancer pain.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of endocrine therapyrelated osteoporosis among patients with breast cancer:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of combining traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),specifically Chinese herbal medicine(CHM),with Western medicine(WM),compared to WM alone to treat breast cancer endocrine therapy-related osteoporosis(BCET-OP)by meta-analysis.Methods:Thirty-eight randomized controlled trials involving 2170 participants were analyzed.Eight databases were searched for articles published between inception and December 2023.Quality assessment was performed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool.Results:Significant increases were observed in the TCM-WM group in lumbar vertebrae bone mineral density(BMD)(P<.001,mean difference(MD)=0.07,95%confidence interval(CI):0.06 to 0.08),lumbar vertebrae T-score(P=.0005,MD=0.21,95%CI:0.09 to 0.33)and collum femoris BMD(P=.01,MD=0.10,95%CI:0.02 to 0.19).No significant difference was observed between the groups in the collum femoris T-score and estradiol levels.Bone gla-protein levels were significantly increased in the TCM-WM group(P=.0002,MD=0.52,95%CI:0.25 to 0.79).Beta-CrossLaps decreased significantly in the TCM-WM group(P=.0008,MD=−0.10,95%CI:−0.16 to−0.04).No significant difference was observed between the TCM-WM and WM groups in alkaline phosphatase,in procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide,and in the Kupperman index.The visual analog score(VAS)was decreased in the TCM-WM group compared to the WM group(P<.001,MD=−1.40,95%CI:−1.94 to−0.87).No significant difference in adverse events was observed between the two groups.Conclusion:Combining CHM with WM in patients with BCET-OP significantly improved BMD,T-score,and certain bone turnover markers and reduced the VAS score,indicating potential benefits for bone health and related pain.Adverse event analysis revealed no differences between the groups,supporting the feasibility of the combination therapy.However,further research,particularly in diverse populations,is required.

Use of traditional Chinese medicine bezoars and bezoar-containing preparations in hepatocarcinoma

This manuscript used network pharmacology and experimental verification to analyze the anti-hepatocarcinoma mechanism of action of bezoars in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),discovering that it can affect the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and related pathways to produce inhibitory effects in liver cancer.In TCM,bezoars have a unique therapeutic advantage in the prevention and treatment of tumors.They play an anti-tumorigenic role by regulating the immune microenvironment through multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms.With the application of nanotechnology,bezoars and their compound preparations have been developed into anti-cancer drugs with unique therapeutic advantages,providing novel treatment options for tumor patients.

From traditional Chinese medicine formulations to effective anticancer agents:Insights from Calculus bovis

This editorial examines the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for aggressive cancers,particularly liver cancer.It highlights the study by Huang et al,which shows how Calculus bovis,a component of the TCM Pien Tze Huang,suppresses liver cancer by inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.This research emphasizes the importance of transitioning from effective TCM formulations to isolating active components and understanding their mechanisms.While the study provides valuable insights,it primarily focuses on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and does not delve deeply into the mechanisms of individual components.Future research should aim to comprehensively study these components,explore their interactions,and validate findings through clinical trials.This approach will integrate traditional wisdom with modern scientific validation,advancing the development of innovative cancer treatments based on TCM formulations.

Retrospective cohort study on the postoperative survival rate enhancement of patients with colorectal cancer using three traditional Chinese medicine formulations:evidence from 1,361 cases

Background:Prior studies have affirmed the safety and effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in treating colorectal cancer patients.However,definitive evidence regarding whether traditional Chinese medicine can significantly enhance the survival of colorectal cancer patients remains elusive.This study seeks to provide conclusive insights by examining the postoperative administration of Xihuang capsules,Pingxiao capsules,and Zilongjin tablets and its impact on the 5-year overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS)rates among colorectal cancer patients.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted,involving 1,361 patients selected from the medical center.This retrospective study was carried out at a medical center in Tianjin,China.We assessed differences in postoperative OS and DFS between the control group and the medication group using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling.Additionally,propensity score matching was used to mitigate imbalances in baseline characteristics among patients.Results:Before propensity score matching,Xihuang capsules could prolong the 5-year OS(79.9%vs.81.4%,P=0.0480)and 5-year DFS(74.9%vs.79.5%,P=0.0046)of patients after surgery.Similar conclusions were obtained after propensity score matching:OS(74.8%vs.78.3%,P=0.0084),DFS(72.7%vs.78.9%,P=0.008).Patients taking Pingxiao capsules showed improved 5-year OS(77.2%vs.84.0%,P=0.0383)and 5-year DFS(69.9%vs.80.0%,P=0.0157)after propensity score matching.Patients taking Zilongjin tablets showed improvement in the 2-year OS(84.2%vs.93.1%,P=0.0390)and 1-year DFS(88.2%vs.92.0%,P=0.0320)after propensity score matching.Conclusion:Xihuang capsules and Pingxiao capsules significantly improved the 5-year OS and DFS of patients with colorectal cancer after surgery.Zilongjin tablets showed improvement in the 2-year OS and 1-year DFS after surgery for patients.

Research progress on the anti-colorectal cancer effect of traditional Chinese medicine active ingredients based on ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is defined as an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death that is initiated by the toxic accumulation of lipid peroxides on cellular membranes.In the past decade,ferroptosis has aroused considerable interest in comprehensive treatment of colorectal cancer,mainly as it is a specific cell death mode that is mechanistically and morphologically differ from other forms of cell death such as autophagy,apoptosis,and pyroptosis,following by holding a giant potential for the therapy of colorectal cancer.Research has found that various active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine possess the ability of inducing ferroptosis in colorectal cancer cells through pathways such as lipid metabolism,iron metabolism,or cysteine/glutamate transporter system,which demonstrating enormous clinical therapeutic potential.In this review,the metabolic regulatory network of ferroptosis is introduced from the perspective of ferroptosis mechanism,and the information on the induction of ferroptosis in colorectal cancer cells by active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine is also be retrospected,which the purpose is to provide novel strategies for the anti-colorectal cancer therapy of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine External Treatment for Cancer Pain

Cancer pain,as a common complication in patients with malignant tumors,is regarded as the fifth vital sign.The involvement of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the treatment of malignant tumors has become a distinctive feature of oncology treatment in China.It is also an important component of cancer pain management.TCM analgesic treatments include various methods,such as internal medicine and external therapies.External analgesic therapies,in particular,are significant methods in TCM pain management and offer both local treatment and systemic regulation.These methods are simple,easy to perform,and non-invasive.They can enhance pain relief effects while reducing the difficulty of oral medication intake and avoiding adverse gastrointestinal reactions,providing new perspectives and approaches for cancer pain treatment with broad development prospects.This article provides a review of the external TCM therapies for cancer pain to share with peers in the field.

Right-and left-sided colorectal cancers respond differently to traditional Chinese medicine

AIM To explore the differences in the responses of left-sided colorectal cancer(LSCRC) and right-sided colon cancer(RSCC) to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).METHODS Patients with postoperative stage I-III colorectal cancer(CRC) were enrolled and divided into the LSCRC with or without TCM and RSCC with or without TCM groups depending on the primary tumor side and TCM administration. Patients in the TCM group were given TCM for at least 6 mo. Our research adopted diseasefree survival(DFS) as the primary endpoint. We applied a Cox proportional hazards regression model for the multivariate factor analysis using Stata 12.0 and SPSS 22.0 software for data analysis.RESULTS Of the 817 patients included in our study, 617 had LSCRC(TCM group, n = 404; Non-TCM group, n = 213), and 200 had RSCC(TCM group, n = 132; NonTCM group, n = 68). The 6-year DFS for patients with LSCRC was 56.95% in the TCM group and 41.50% in the Non-TCM group(P = 0.000). For patients with RSCC, the 6-year DFS was 52.92% in the TCM group and 37.19% in the Non-TCM group(P = 0.003). Differences between LSCRC and RSCC were not statistically significant regardless of TCM ingestion.CONCLUSION Patients with either LSCRC or RSCC and who took TCM experienced longer DFS; furthermore, patients with RSCC benefited more from TCM in DFS.

Research progress of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC)is a malignant tumor originating from the gastric epithelium,and its incidence and mortality rates rank third among all malignant tumors worldwide.It is also one of the most common cancers in China and is treated predominantly by Western medicine in clinical practice.However,with the advancements in medical technology and informatics,the values of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in preventing and treating GC and improving prognosis have increasingly been recognized.According to TCM,clinical manifestations of GC can be divided into Yege(dysphagia),regurgitation,stomach pain,and Zhengxia(abdominal mass).Due to the unbalanced distribution of health care resources in China,most GC patients already have progressive or advanced-stage disease at the first diagnosis.As a result,most GC patients have poor physical function,and surgery or chemotherapy alone will aggravate the impairment to the immune function and seriously affect the quality of life.In contrast,TCM therapies have shown promising efficacy in the management of these patients.Here we review the role of the integrated TCM and Western medicine in treating advanced GC.

Traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma: From bench to bedside

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has played a positive role in the management of hepatocarcinoma. Hepatocarcinoma patients may present Qi-stagnation, damp-heat, blood stasis, Qi-deficiency, Yin-deficiency and other TCM syndromes(Zheng). Modern treatments such as surgery, transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) and high intensity focus ultrasound treatment would influence the manifestation of TCM syndromes. Herbs with traditional efficacy of tonifying Qi, blood and Yin, soothing liver-Qi stagnation, clearing heat and detoxifying and dissolving stasis, have been demonstrated to be potent to prevent hepatocarcinogenesis. TCM has been widely used in all aspects of integrative therapy in hepatocarcinoma, including surgical resection, liver transplantation, TACE, local ablative therapies and even as monotherapy for middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma. Clinical practices have confirmed that TCM is effective to alleviate clinical symptoms, improve quality of life and immune function, prevent recurrence and metastasis, delay tumor progression, and prolong survival time in hepatocarcinoma patients. The effective mechanism of TCM against hepatocarcinoma is related to inducing apoptosis, autophagy, anoikis and cell senescence, arresting cell cycle, regulating immune function, inhibiting metastasis and angiogenesis, reversing drug resistance and enhancing effects of chemotherapy. Along with the progress of research in this field, TCM will contribute more to the prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma.