Traditional Chinese medicine as a protective strategy against chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity: An overview of the literature

Abstract

Cardiotoxicity refers to the damage caused to the heart or vascular system, which has become a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Up to 20 % of adults undergoing cancer treatment may experience cardiotoxicity, with 7 %–10 % developing cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Cardiotoxic medications put patients at risk for a variety of heart conditions, including cardiac failure (HF), left ventricle (LV) systolic malfunction, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and ischemia/myocardial infarction. These diseases may significantly impact the patient's quality of life and outcomes. Many conventional cancer chemotherapy agents have serious adverse effects. Anthracyclines, alkylating agents, taxanes, topoisomerase inhibitors, and antimetabolites are chemotherapeutic agents that induce cardiotoxicity. Recently, there has been an increasing focus on using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. TCM encompasses a range of practices, such as herbology, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and physical exercises like t'ai chi. These practices aim to enhance the flow of qi, which can alleviate symptoms of illness. Although the effectiveness of TCM has not been extensively researched and supported, scientists have begun utilizing scientific methods to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying TCM. Ongoing research is being conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of TCM treatments in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity. The present study aims to evaluate the protection and efficacy of various TCM treatments in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.