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A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of combining traditional Chinese medicine with radiotherapy for breast cancer
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Y.J. Yu   , L.H. Zhu , W.C. Guo |
| Department of Vascular Surgery, Yibin First People's Hospital, Yibin, Sichuan, China , 106176227@qq.com |
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Abstract: (9 Views) |
Background: Variability in treatment sensitivity and radiation-induced toxicity can adversely affect clinical outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of integrating traditional Chinese medicine with radiotherapy in the treatment. Materials and Methods: To identify eligible studies, a systematic search strategy was applied to five major biomedical databases. Radiotherapy mainly involved conventional external beam techniques, including three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and EBRT. TCM interventions consisted of injectable preparations and oral herbal formulas administered during or around radiotherapy. Results: 9 studies involving 655 patients were included. Combination therapy significantly improved objective response rate (RR = 1.44, P < 0.001) and reduced adverse outcomes (RR = 0.34, P < 0.001). CD4⁺T cells increased significantly (MD = 9.55, P < 0.001), whereas CD8⁺T-cell changes were nonsignificant (MD = –3.89, P = 0.280). The regimen also lowered gastrointestinal toxicity (RR = 0.52, P = 0.008) and myelosuppression (RR = 0.53, P < 0.001). The findings were validated through sensitivity analyses, demonstrating their robustness. Conclusion: TCM combined with radiotherapy may enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity in breast cancer, warranting further large-scale trials. |
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| Keywords: Breast neoplasms, radiotherapy, medicine, Chinese traditional, immunity, meta-analysis. |
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Full-Text [PDF 1245 kb]
(2 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review article |
Subject:
Radiation Biology
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