Background
Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) is one of the leading causes of death among patients with colorectal cancer, characterized by poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although multidisciplinary treatments, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, can prolong survival, some patients fail to tolerate or sustain these therapies due to drug resistance or adverse effects. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has attracted increasing attention as an adjunctive approach for improving symptoms, enhancing treatment tolerance, and potentially extending survival.
Case Summary
We report a 52-year-old male patient with CRLM who underwent two hepatic resections, radiotherapy, multiple lines of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, as well as radiofrequency ablation. Guided by TCM, he received long-term oral decoctions based on the therapeutic principle of gong-bu jian-shi (simultaneous reinforcement and elimination), which aims to strengthen vital Qi while removing pathogenic factors. Despite limited tolerance to systemic therapies, the patient maintained prolonged disease stability and achieved an overall survival of 11 years after the initial diagnosis of liver metastasis in 2013. In 2024, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, he developed duodenal ulceration and multiorgan progression, eventually succumbing to disease deterioration.
Conclusion
This case highlights the potential role of TCM as an adjunct in the long-term integrative management of CRLM. Through reinforcing vital Qi, eliminating pathogenic factors, and harmonizing Yin and Yang, TCM may improve systemic function, enhance treatment tolerance, and delay disease progression. When conventional treatments are limited, TCM may serve as a valuable complementary strategy, providing new insights into individualized and long-term management of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
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