Woojin Kim1, Won-Bock Lee1, Jung-Woo Lee1, Byung-Il Min2, Sun Kyung Baek3, Hyang Sook Lee4, Seung-Hun Cho5. 1. Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. 2. Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. 4. Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea. 5. Hospital of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, #1 Heogi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. Electronic address: chosh@khu.ac.kr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as adjunctive therapy for breast cancer as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Five electronic English and Chinese databases were systematically searched up to February, 2014. All RCTs involving THM in combination with conventional cancer therapy for breast cancer were included. RESULTS: Eight RCTs involving 798 breast cancer patients were systematically reviewed. Three studies reported a significant difference in the improvement of quality of life (QOL) compared to the control group. Two studies reported an increase in the white blood cell count after treatment. Data on hot flashes and sleep quality were evaluated. However, no significant differences in immediate tumor response were observed. CONCLUSION: THM combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of breast cancer is efficacious in improving QOL and in decreasing the number of hot flashes per day. More research and well-designed, rigorous, large clinical trials are necessary to further address these issues.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as adjunctive therapy for breast cancer as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Five electronic English and Chinese databases were systematically searched up to February, 2014. All RCTs involving THM in combination with conventional cancer therapy for breast cancer were included. RESULTS: Eight RCTs involving 798 breast cancerpatients were systematically reviewed. Three studies reported a significant difference in the improvement of quality of life (QOL) compared to the control group. Two studies reported an increase in the white blood cell count after treatment. Data on hot flashes and sleep quality were evaluated. However, no significant differences in immediate tumor response were observed. CONCLUSION:THM combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of breast cancer is efficacious in improving QOL and in decreasing the number of hot flashes per day. More research and well-designed, rigorous, large clinical trials are necessary to further address these issues.