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Review
. 2020 Oct 15;133(24):2987-2997.
doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001141.

Clinical application and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of lung cancer

Xiao-Lin Su  1   2 , Jiang-Wei Wang  3 , Hui Che  4 , Chang-Fu Wang  5 , Hai Jiang  1 , Xia Lei  1 , Wan Zhao  1 , Hai-Xue Kuang  1 , Qiu-Hong Wang  5
Affiliations
Review

Clinical application and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of lung cancer

Xiao-Lin Su et al. Chin Med J (Engl). .

Abstract

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor characterized by a rapid proliferation rate, less survivability, high mortality, and metastatic potential. This review focuses on updated research about the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an adjuvant therapy to lung cancer treatment and the mechanisms of TCM effect on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. We summarized the recent 5 years of different research progress on clinical applications and antitumor mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer. As a potent adjuvant therapy, TCM could enhance conventional treatments (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and epidermal growth factor receptors [EGFRs] tyrosine kinase inhibitors [TKIs]) effects as well as provide synergistic effects, enhance chemotherapy drugs chemosensitivity, reverse drug resistance, reduce adverse reactions and toxicity, relieve patients' pain and improve quality of life (QOL). After treating with TCM, lung cancer cells will induce apoptosis and/or autophagy, suppress metastasis, impact immune reaction, and therapeutic effect of EGFR-TKIs. Therefore, TCM is a promisingly potent adjuvant therapy in the treatment of lung cancer and its multiple mechanisms are worthy of an in-depth study.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer. EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine; TKI: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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