Use of compound Chinese medicine in the treatment of lung cancer.
Traditional Chinese/herbal medicine (TCM) is now commonly used by cancer patients of Asian ethnicity to supplement or replace prescribed treatments. The overall survival rate for lung cancer has not improved significantly in the past several decades; it remains the leading cause of cancer death. Much more attention has been paid by clinicians and researchers to the possible use of compound Chinese medicine (CCM) as effective anti-lung cancer medicines. In this review, we briefly summarize the clinical and experimental status of numerous CCMs recently developed primarily in China for the treatment of lung cancer, including formulations, treatment effectiveness, and molecular mechanisms. By presenting this information, our goal is to possibly open up new future avenues for the practice of lung cancer treatment.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. gqtian86@yahoo.com
Guoqing
G
Tian
Leilei
L
Guo
Weimin
W
Gao
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal