title: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy combined with traditional medicines for neutropenia in colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis of the contributions of specific plants.
abstract: This review assessed the effects on chemotherapy induced neutropenia (CIN) of combining oxaliplatin regimens with traditional plant-based medicines (TMs) in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC). 32 RCTs (2224 participants) were included. Meta-analysis showed reduced incidence of grade 3/4 CIN (RR 0.45[0.31, 0.65], I(2)=0%). No studies reported serious adverse events or reduction in tumour response rates associated with concurrent use of oxaliplatin and TM. Due to small sample sizes and risk of bias, these results should be interpreted with caution. Analyses of sub-groups of studies that used similar TM interventions assessed the relative contributions of individual plant-based ingredients to the results. Astragalus, Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Poria and Coix, in various combinations were consistently associated with reduced CIN incidence when administered orally. Experimental studies of these plants have reported reduced myelosuppression and/or enhanced immune response. Further studies of these plants may lead to the development of interventions to supplement conventional CIN treatment.
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Electronic address: aussway@yahoo.com.au.
authors: Menghua
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Electronic address: brian.may@rmit.edu.au.
authors: Brian H
authors: BH
authors: May
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Electronic address: wenyu.zhou@rmit.edu.au.
authors: Iris W
authors: IW
authors: Zhou
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Electronic address: daniel.sze@rmit.edu.au.
authors: Daniel Man-Yuen
authors: DM
authors: Sze
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences & Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: charlie.xue@rmit.edu.au.
authors: Charlie C
authors: CC
authors: Xue
authors: The China-Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Electronic address: tony.zhang@rmit.edu.au.
authors: Anthony L
authors: AL
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
keywords: Chemotherapy induced neutropenia; Colorectal cancer; Meta-analysis; Myelosuppression; Natural products; Oxaliplatin