Integrative Cancer Therapies最新文献

Background: Reishi mushroom is one of the most commonly used supplements among cancer patients. However, limited data exists on why patients choose Reishi. This study aimed to explore patients' expectations and barriers to using Reishi.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of a cancer population from Mainland China who reported using Reishi. Participants were recruited using a customer database from Zhongke Health International LLC. Patients' expectations and barriers to Reishi use were assessed using a modified version of the Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ABCAM) survey. Multivariable linear regression models were applied to examine whether socio-demographic and clinical factors, as well as Reishi usage patterns, influenced participants' attitudes toward Reishi.

Results: Among 1374 participants, the most common sources of information about Reishi products were friends (49.78%) and family (36.83%). More than half (55.9%) used additional traditional Chinese herbal remedies in combination with Reishi. The most frequently cited expectations for Reishi use were boosting immunity (45% strongly agreed) and improving physical health (41% strongly agreed). 72% identified cost and insurance coverage as the primary barriers to Reishi usage. Approximately 10% considered side effects and limited research evidence as barriers. Stage IV cancer and duration of Reishi use >5 years were significantly associated with higher expectations and lower perceived barriers.

Conclusion: This study identified the most common expectations and barriers to Reishi use in cancer care in Mainland China. These findings can help clinicians better understand patient perspectives and integrate herbal supplements more effectively into supportive cancer care.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits low survival rates. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become first-line treatment for NSCLC, their limited response to ICI monotherapy has led to exploration of combination treatments. However, the high incidence of treatment-related adverse events associated with conventional drug combinations has highlighted the need for alternative herbal therapy. Bojungikki-tang (BJIKT), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders and enhance immune function. Our preclinical studies have demonstrated that BJIKT combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies exhibits significant efficacy in suppressing tumor growth by modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Building on these preclinical findings, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BJIKT with pembrolizumab combination therapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients.

Methods: 70 individuals with stage IV NSCLC scheduled for first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy will be randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The primary outcome will be progression-free survival, with secondary outcomes including disease control rate, overall survival, and quality of life assessment. Adverse events will be monitored for safety. This study will explore the synergistic mechanism of combinatorial therapy using immune profiling and multi-omics analysis, and the possibility for personalized integrative therapy based on cold-heat syndrome differentiation (SD) types in East Asian medicine.

Discussion: This study will provide novel evidence regarding survival outcomes, quality of life, and safety profiles of combined ICI and BJIKT therapy for advanced NSCLC. The exploratory data will contribute to tailoring treatments to immune-based SD types in NSCLC patients.

Background: The incidence and mortality of lung cancer is the highest among malignant tumors worldwide, and it seriously threatens human life and health. Surgery is the primary radical treatment for lung cancer. However, patients often experience discomfort, changes in social roles, economic pressures, and other postsurgical challenges. These factors frequently cause various psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, significantly diminishing the quality of life and elevating the risks of recurrence, metastasis, and mortality. Therefore, effective strategies for mental function rehabilitation should be urgently developed. Traditional Chinese medicine can significantly improve psychological function and physical symptoms after lung cancer surgery, and prolong patient survival. However, its effectiveness for mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Chinese medicine on mental function recovery after lung cancer surgery through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: This study will systematically search the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, VIP database, and Chinese BioMedical Literature database. Search for studies published from the inception of each database until April 22, 2024. This study will be limited to clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome will be depression or anxiety, as indicated by the scale score. Data analysis will be performed using RevMan 5. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool will be used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Finally, the quality of the evidence will be classified using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) System.

Results: This meta-analysis aims to offer comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery. The study will assess the quality of the reports and conduct a subgroup analysis based on various postoperative stages, intervention measures, intervention duration, and sex to gather more evidence to fill the gap in psychological function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery. These data can be used to guide clinical practice and inform future studies. More importantly, the results of this study will provide evidence to support the development of expert consensus and clinical guidelines in the field of mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery.

Purpose: Sedentary behavior (SB) contributes to the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in endometrial cancer survivors (ECS). This feasibility study aimed to evaluate key outcomes to assess the practicality of SB reduction interventions for ECS. Secondary aims included SB domain assessment and preliminary efficacy testing of the relationship between SB and arterial stiffness.

Methods: Forty stage-1 ECS (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m², aged 50-80, <12 months post-treatment) participated in the study, which measured total and domain-specific SB using accelerometry and ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was estimated via Mobil-O-Graph, and linear regression models examined the association between SB and PWV.

Results: The study achieved 4 of 5 assessed outcomes, with a 63% consent rate in 10 months. Retention was high, with 90% of participants completing all aspects. Fidelity was strong, though EMA compliance was 69%, slightly below the 70% target. Self-reported SB was 71.4% lower than accelerometer-measured SB [MD: -5.00 hours/day (95% CI: -6.57 to -3.43), P < .001]. ECS exhibited a PWV of 9.04 ± 1.80 m/s, 13.4% higher than normative values, with occupational SB significantly associated with PWV.

Conclusions: This study highlights high SB and PWV levels in ECS, indicating the need for interventions, particularly for occupational SB. The high retention and consent rates suggest ECS are willing to engage in behavior change, pointing to future research focusing on strategies to reduce SB and improve cardiovascular health.

Background: The current standard treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) with standard antiemetics is insufficient. Rikkunshito, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, has been shown to improve cisplatin-induced anorexia and functional dyspepsia, and our exploratory study found that rikkunshito has an additive beneficial effect on CINV in patients with uterine corpus and cervical cancer receiving cisplatin containing chemotherapy (JORTC KMP-02).

Methods: One hundred eighty patients with uterine corpus or cervical cancer who were scheduled to receive treatment with a cisplatin based regimen as initial chemotherapy were enrolled across 17 Japanese institutions. Patients were randomized with a 1:1 equal allocation ratio to the rikkunshito group or placebo groups and given oral administration on days 1 to 5 with standard antiemetics (granisetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone). The primary endpoint was complete response (CR; no vomiting or rescue medication) during the delayed phase (24-120 hours after cisplatin treatment). The secondary endpoints were complete control (CC; CR without significant nausea) and total control (TC; CR without nausea) rates during the overall (0-120 hours), acute (0-24 hours), and delayed phases, as well as the CR rate during the overall and acute phases, time to treatment failure, degree of nausea and appetite during the overall phase, and adherence to the intervention.

Results: The CR rate in the delayed phase was similar between the rikkunshito group and control groups (50.6% vs 58.9%, P = .2631), as were the secondary endpoints: CR rates in the overall and acute phases, CC and TC rates in the overall, acute, and delayed phases, degrees of nausea and appetite, and time to treatment failure.

Conclusion: Rikkunshito had no additive effect on CINV prevention in patients with uterine corpus or cervical cancer who were treated with a cisplatin based regimen and standard antiemetics.

Clinical trial registration: https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/re/reports/detail/66957, identifier jRCT1011190007.

Background: Cancer remains a significant public health problem in China, with new cases and cancer-related deaths increasing in recent years. This study examines the dietary habits, smoking, and alcohol consumption patterns among Chinese patients with cancer, and explores factors influencing these lifestyle behaviors.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted on a cross-sectional survey of 287 cancer patients from an oncology outpatient clinic in central China. Patients self-reported their current dietary habits, smoking, and alcohol use and recalled their habits prior to their cancer diagnosis. Responses were assessed using a Likert scale ranging from "never = 0" to "often = 3." The survey specifically measured the frequency of consuming red meat, seafood, milk, tofu, spicy foods, and "balanced yin-yang foods," as well as alcohol consumption and smoking. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and logistic regression.

Results: Patients reported significant reductions in smoking and alcohol consumption post-diagnosis, with a 60% decrease compared to pre-diagnosis levels. Dietary changes included reduced intake of red meat, seafood, tofu, spicy foods, and milk, alongside increased adherence to a balanced yin-yang diet. Both Cultural/TCM beliefs and symptom-related factors significantly shape those lifestyle behaviors. The influence of TCM was particularly notable. Patients with strong TCM beliefs were associated with reduced alcohol consumption and decreased intake of seafood, tofu, and milk.

Conclusions: Following a cancer diagnosis, Chinese patients made significantnotable changes to their smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits; adopting healthier lifestyle behaviors. Oncology physicians and nurses should adhere to updated clinical guidelines on nutrition in cancer survivorship and integrate TCM principles to provide tailored lifestyle education and support.

Ovarian cancer, a frequently occurring gynecological malignancy with a poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate below 45%, often progresses due to metastatic colonization. This review highlights the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers as anticancer agents that inhibit the metastatic colonization of ovarian cancer cells. TCM monomers exhibit various mechanisms of action, including (1) inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation by modulating cell adhesion molecules; (2) reducing extracellular matrix damage through inhibition of degrading enzymes; (3) affecting cytoskeletal dynamics to alter cell movement; and (4) preventing angiogenesis by downregulating angiogenic factors. Additionally, TCM monomers can reshape the tumor microenvironment, enhance immune responses, and induce oxidative stress, resulting in reduced proliferation and survival of cancer cells. The comprehensive action of TCM monomers makes them promising candidates for individualized, multi-target therapies in drug-resistant cases. This paper reviews the current research on the mechanisms through which TCM monomers combat metastatic colonization, aiming to provide insights for future studies and clinical applications in ovarian cancer treatment, ultimately offering hope to affected patients.

Background: This trial evaluated the efficacy of melatonin versus placebo in alleviating radiotherapy-induced fatigue, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer patients.

Methods and materials: This randomized, triple-blind, parallel-group, single-center clinical trial was conducted in the radiation oncology department of Namazi Hospital in Shiraz, Iran. Eligible breast cancer patients scheduled for adjuvant radiotherapy were randomly assigned to receive either 20 mg oral melatonin daily or a placebo. All participants underwent conventional radiotherapy (50 Gy total, delivered as 2 Gy per day). Patients in the melatonin group received the intervention starting on the first day of radiotherapy and continuing until treatment completion. Assessments were performed at baseline and 1 week after the intervention using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Beck's Depression and Anxiety checklists. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 with a significance level set at P < .05.

Results: Both groups (n = 50 each) had comparable baseline characteristics. Baseline MFI fatigue (P = .06), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = .5), and Beck Depression Inventory (P = .9) scores showed no significant differences between groups. Post-intervention, the melatonin group had significantly lower scores than the placebo group (Mann-Whitney U test, P < .001 for all): MFI fatigue (median: 42.5 vs 55), Beck Anxiety Inventory (median: 28.5 vs 38), and Beck Depression Inventory (median: 29 vs 38). In the placebo group, changes were minimal: MFI fatigue scores were nearly unchanged (median: 56 vs 55), with no significant differences in Beck Anxiety Inventory (median: 38 vs 38, P = .08) or Beck Depression Inventory scores (median: 38 vs 38, P = .3). Within the melatonin group, the Friedman test showed significant reductions from baseline to post-intervention in MFI fatigue (median: 61-42.5), Beck Anxiety Inventory (median: 38-28.5), and Beck Depression Inventory scores (median: 38.5-29; P < .001 for all).

Conclusion: Melatonin administration during radiotherapy significantly alleviated fatigue, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer patients.