Journal of Cancer Therapy, 2013, 4, 1506-1512
Published Online December 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jct)
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jct.2013.410182
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional
Chemotherapy Regimens in Advanced Recurrent Breast
Mammary Carcinoma
M. Hu1*, R. Z. Chen1*, L. L. Zhu1*, C. J. Tao1, T. G. Wang3, X. D. Xia3, P. Li4#, Y. L. Gong3#, G. M. Lv2#
1Graduate School, Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; 2Department of Nursing Education, Jiangsu Jiankang
Vocational College, Nanjing, China; 3Department of Oncology, Nanjing 1st Hospital, Nanjing, China; 4Department of Gastroen-
terology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Email: #Lvguangmei@aliyun.com, #Pingli1965@163.com, #gongyongling26@163.com
Received November 7th, 2013; revised December 28th, 2013; accepted December 5th, 2013
Copyright © 2013 M. Hu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In accordance of
the Creative Commons Attribution License all Copyrights © 2013 are reserved for SCIRP and the owner of the intellectual property
M. Hu et al. All Copyright © 2013 are guarded by law and by SCIRP as a guardian.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Aiming at starting the ball rolling and contributing humble effort to promoting traditional Chinese medicine,
we report one successful case of “GP” regimen of combining chemotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine decoc-
tion (“lung description”) for breast cancer with lung and bone metastases. Patients and Methods: A second-line che-
motherapy regimen of GP (cisplatin + gemcitabine) was applied. In the meantime, we administered Chinese herbal
medicine (Fei Decoction, mixed with a variety of effective herbal components) to help her recover from the poor condi-
tion. Re sults: The tumor markers (CEA, CA15-3) had dramatically decreased to the normal range. Both lung and bone
metastatic sites reduced according to CT and ECT imaging, and this patient felt free from the complaint of pulmonary
and cardiac discomfort. The quality of life has been greatly improved, and the PFS (Progression-Free-Survival) and
TTP (Time-to-Progression) have been prolonged from the onset to date. Conclusions: In the course of this combined
treatment, it has been shown that Chinese herbal medicine played an important role in the therapy of breast mammary
carcinoma. Therefore, Chinese herb may turn out to be an additional choice with its better benefits and tolerability in
the treatment of recurrent breast mammary carcinoma.
Keywords: Breast Mammary Carcinoma; Chemotherapy; Chinese Medicine
1. Introduction
The incidence of breast cancer has increased because of
the reduced mortality resulting from improved treatments
and the development of advanced tools for the early de-
tection of cancerous lesions [1]. Data released by China
Cancer Research Foundation showed that breast mam-
mary carcinoma might be the first leading cause of death
from cancer of women in metropolis such as Shanghai,
Beijing and Guangzhou. In Shanghai, the situation is
more serious, for there are currently about 40,000 pa-
tients suffering from breast cancer, with the new cases
rate being at 10/129 each day. Among these, 20% to 30%
of breast cancer patients are accompanied with “black
butterfly” known as HER2 positive breast cancer, whose
prognosis is dismay in one disaster after another [2,3].
Thus, more patients with advanced recurrent breast
mammary carcinoma are now encountered. Efforts to
develop more effective drugs for treatment of recurring
breast mammary carcinoma have been intensified.
Chinese medicine is a medical system that is capable
of treating a very wide range of conditions. Together
with acupuncture, massage, and food cures, they form the
four distinct methods of treatment in traditional Chinese
medicine (also known as TCM or T.C.M.). Today, TCM
still plays a major part of health care in China, and is
provided in state hospitals alongside with Western medi-
cine [4]. Yet there are basic differences between Western
medicine and TCM. Western medicine focuses more on
the treatment of symptoms while TCM focuses more on
* R.Z. Chen, L.L. Zhu and M. Hu contributed equally to this work.
#Corresponding authors.
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
1507
the causes of those symptoms [5].
It has become an indisputable fact that the treatment of
recurrent breast mammary carcinoma in advanced stage
is characterized by poor clinical efficacy and adverse
outcome, and the therapy efficacy of the combination
treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and western
medicine for this breast mammary carcinoma is to be
further evaluated by the evidence-based medicine [6].
Currently, the combination treatment of chemotherapy
and traditional Chinese medicine for the advanced recur-
rent breast mammary carcinoma has rarely been reported
[7]. Hence, aiming at starting the ball rolling and con-
tributing humble effort to promoting traditional Chinese
medicine, we report one successful case of “GP” regimen
of combining chemotherapy with traditional Chinese
medicine decoction in Figure 1, “Fei formulary” for
breast mammary carcinoma with lung and bone metasta-
ses.
2. Case Presentation
A 46-year-old Chinese woman with a postmenopausal
history was presented to a local neighborhood clinic be-
cause of an abnormal mass in her right breast mammary
gland seen on a molybdenum target radiography taken
during an annual medical checkup. A chest computed
tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a solitary breast
cancer with an irregular border and a spiculated forma-
tion in her right breast gland, which had enlarged right
axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs), suggesting
invasive breast adenocarcinoma (T3N2M0) in Sep 2010.
She was subsequently referred to local hospital for a
radical surgical resection of her right breast cancer on
Nov 16, 2011. Microscopic examination of the removal
specimens showed locally advanced low-differentiated
adenocarcinoma invaded gland ducts and lymph nodes
(9/9), immunohistochemistry showed: ER++, PR++,
Cerb2 +, which indicates stage III breast mammary car-
cinoma. Postoperative recovery is well, three cycles of
postoperative chemotherapy (docetaxel and epi-ADM)
and radiotherapyDT:55Gywere administered, and the
final chemoradiotherapy was performed on Feb7, 2011,
thereafter tamoxifen sequential endocrine therapy was
administered.
Figure 1. Formulary of Fei Decoction 1 - 6, mixed with a variety of effective herbal components. Sig: decoct medicinal herbs
n 300 ml water per day, 150 ml, bid (9:00/am, 15:00 pm). i
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
1508
By the end of 2011, she began to complain of dry
cough, chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, headedness,
weakness and fatigue, and those symptoms went from
bad to worse. So this patient was referred to our medical
college and hospitalized in the oncological department in
Jan, 2012. Conventional laboratory data showed iron
deficiency anemia and elevated levels of carcinoembry-
onic antigen (CEA: 8.45 ng/ml) and carbohydrate antigen
(CA15-3:282.80 U/ml). Systemic evaluation, including
CT and ECT imaging, showed evidence of multiple pul-
monary, mediastinal LNs, and skeletal metastatic lesions,
accompanied with complications consisted of pleural
effusion, arrhythmia, pericardial effusion and low cardiac
output syndrome, etc. Upon diagnosis it was confirmed
as advanced recurrent breast mammary carcinoma
T4N2M1). Assessment of HER2 tumor status by fluores-
cence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was judged as
being an inappropriate case for trastuzumab target treat-
ment, due to its negative result. In accordance with our
patient’s request, she received the treatment of second-
line chemotherapy regimen of GP with cisplatin (20 mg,
d1-5) plus gemcitabine (1.4 g, d1, 8) every four weeks on
the basis of the available Chinese clinical practice guide-
lines in oncology. Chemoradiotherapy was not chosen as
a treatment option because of the requirement for an ex-
tended radiation field. In the meantime, we administered
Chinese herbal medicine (Figure 1: Fei Decoction 1 - 2,
mixed with a variety of effective herbal components) to
get far better benefits and tolerability.
Effect of Fei Decoction 1: tonifying Yang and bene-
fiting Qi, including inducing diuresis to alleviate edema,
clearing away lung heat and expelling abscess. Effect of
Fei Decoction 2: strengthening purgation and detoxifica-
tion based on Fei Decoction 1.
After 2 cycles of chemotherapy plus Chinese tradi-
tional treatment, the tumor marker dramatically de-
creased (CEA: 8.45 1.63 ng/ml, CA15-3: 282.80
58.89 U/ml). Both lung and bone metastatic sites reduced
in size, and judged as stable disease(SD) using the Re-
sponse of Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria,
with the patient feeling free from the complaint of pul-
monary and cardiac discomfort. Along with this favor-
able outcome, our patient received a further four cycles
chemotherapy of GP plus Chinese herbal medicine (Fig-
ure 1: Fei Decoction 3 - 5). Effect of Fei Decoction 3:
strengthening the efficacy of nourishing Yin and mois-
tening lung based on Fei Decoction 1. Effect of Fei De-
coction 4: strengthening the efficacy of clearing away
heat and detoxifying, dissipating stasis and alleviating
pain based on Fei Decoction 1. Effect of Fei Decoction 5:
strengthening the efficacy of clearing away lung heat and
reducing phlegm, relieving swelling and alleviating pain
based on Fei Decoction 1.
In the course of chemotherapy, our patient also exhib-
ited grade 3 - 4 leukopenia and neutropenia, which were
dealt with clinical antibiotics (igecycline, 50mg,iv,q12h,
Hisun-Pfizer) and G-CSFPegfilgrastim, jinyouli, 6.0mg,
H, st, China Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Company),
with the normal result of blood routine test after treat-
ment (WBC: 0.9 × 109/L6.3 × 109/L). However, the treat-
ment was successfully administered in the case of the
breast cancer, with mediastinal LNs reduced, and was
judged as a PR after six cycles of treatment. The final
time of scheduled chemotherapy was July 15, 2012. One
month after the last combination therapy, chest CT and
skeletal ECT revealed no regrowth of pulmonary lesion
and vertebral invasion, and deminished mediastinal LNs
and pleural effusion, resulting in stable disease with a
6-month progression-free survival. The tumor marker
(CEA, CA153) dramatically decreased to the normal
range, and the quality of life has been greatly improved.
So the patient was discharged from our hospital after
recovery, and received a further maintenance monother-
apy with Chinese herbal medicine (Figure 1: Fei Decoc-
tion 6). Effect of Fei Decoction 6: strengthening the effi-
cacy of clearing away lung heat and reducing fire, re-
lieving swelling and alleviating pain based on Fei Decoc-
tion 1. A follow-up was scheduled with her outpatient
service doctor every 6 month, including interval history,
physical examination, conventional laboratory test, de-
termination of tumor markers, chest CT and skeletal ECT.
Follow-up results showed that the tumor marker (CEA,
CA153) level finally came back to the normal range
(Figure 2). Both lung and LNs metastatic sites reduced
according to CT (Figure 3). Yet it came as a surprise to
find an effect of diminishing the bone lesions by ECT
imaging (Figure 4), and perfectly normal ECG. Our pa-
tient is still alive 37 months after diagnosis, and further
Chinese traditional treatment is planned including both
decoction and powder for oral taking. We managed to
have prolonged the PFS (Progression-Free-Survival) and
TTP (Time-to-Progression) from the onset to date.
3. Discussion
Chinese breast cancer patients see a doctor in an average
age of 48.7 years old, among whom more than a third are
diagnosed between 40 and 49. The incidence of breast
cancer has a trend of “urbanization” and “high-end
crowd” [8]. Although China is located in the low area of
breast cancer, the incidence has been increasing signifi-
cantly in recent years, about 470,000 patients to date [9].
Those therapeutic effect and prognosis of recurrent or
metastatic breast cancer is far from satisfactory. The
overall concept of Chinese traditional medicine is based
upon the theory that deficiency of vital “Qi” with preva-
lence of pathogenic “Qi” is the root cause of diseases and
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
1509
Figure 2. Changes of CA15-3 in the course of treatment.
Chest CT (May, 2012) Chest CT (Feb, 2013)
Figure 3. Comparison of chest CT before and after treat-
ment.
2012-01-10 2013-02-01
Figure 4. Comparison of ECT before and after treatment.
syndromes. It is believed that weakened body resistance
coupled with prevailing pathogenic factors should be the
fundamental cause in the initiation and development of
tumor. Chinese traditional medicine clinical treatment
aims to take into consideration a patient’s whole condi-
tion, including body and mental condition, rather than
confines to the cancer lesion itself [10]. Distinguished
prescriptions should be made out to individual patients,
so as to increase energy and heighten sense of well-being,
reduce the side effect of radiation and chemotherapy,
refresh marrow function and improve appetite and sleep
[11]. The research of Chinese traditional medicine
anti-tumor effect has made great achievements in recent
years [12]. It should be guided by the theory of Chinese
traditional medicine to practice in oncology. With the
development of science, it has obtained a new under-
standing of etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of the
tumor for human beings, who will pay a great deal of
attention to the molecular mechanism of the anti-tumor
effect in traditional Chinese medicine.
Principal, assistant, complement and mediating guide
constitute the fundamental elements of traditional Chi-
nese medicine medicinal prescription. Our case showed
the efficacy of chemotherapy regimen GP plus Chinese
herbal medicine Fei decoct in the treatment of advanced
recurrent breast cancer. The followings is detailed ex-
planation of prescription mentioned above.
Efficacy of Decoction 1: tonifying Yang and benefit-
ing Qi, including inducing diuresis to alleviate edema,
clearing away lung heat and expelling abscess.
Prescription analysis: Principal: in the description,
astragalus membranaceus, tonifying Yang and benefiting
Qi, inducing diuresis to alleviate edema, detoxifying and
expelling abscess; Assistant: Chinese wax gourd kernel,
being sweet in taste and cold in nature and clearing away
lung heat, reducing phlegm and expelling abscess;
houttuynia cordata, being acrid in taste and cold in nature
and distributing to lung, clearing away heat and detoxi-
fying, eliminating carbuncle and expelling abscess,
inducing diuresis for treating strangurtia. Complement
and mediating guide: peach kernel, removing blood sta-
sis, semen coicis, clearing away lung heat and expelling
abscess; platycodon grandiflorum and almond, ascending
and descending respectively to open lung energy, reduce
phlegm and expel abscess; lilium brownii, radix Glehniae
and tuber of dwarf lilyturf, being sweet in taste and cold
in nature and moistening lung, nourishing Yin and clear-
ing away heat; bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae, reducing
phlegm and moistening lung to strengthen the efficacy;
cortex albiziae, removing blood stasis and eliminating
carbuncle, resolving stagnation for tranquilization, capa-
ble of distributing to liver and lung; cynanchum atratum,
being bitter in taste and cold in nature, eliminate defi-
ciency heat and treating ulcer and pyogenic in fections;
rice, malt sprouts, soothing liver and relieving depression,
invigorating spleen and appetizing, promoting secretion
and nourishing Yin and helping stomach Qi in develop-
ing; rhizoma bletillae, stopping bleeding and eliminating
carbuncle, removing necrotic tissue and promoting
granulation; and liquorice, moderating the property of the
mentioned herbs.
Efficacy of Decoction 2: strengthening purgation and
detoxification based on description 1.
Prescription analysis: Principal, assistant, comple-
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
1510
ment and mediating guide are the same as those in the
previous prescription analysis. Compared with the pre-
vious prescription, add fructus aurantii, relieving stuffi-
ness of chest and regulating Qi, accompanied by raw
rhubarb, for strengthening the efficacy of relieving con-
stipation and relaxing bowels, eliminating carbuncle and
dispersing swelling.
Efficacy of Decoction 3: strengthening the efficacy of
nourishing Yin and moistening lung based on description
1. Prescription analysis: Principle: radix rehmanniae
preparata, nourishing Yin and enriching blood; dried
rhizome of rehmannia, clearing away heat and cooling
blood; radix scrophulariae, being salty in taste and cold
in nature, helping the two medicines above in nourishing
Yin and strengthening renal Yin and clearing away defi-
ciency fire. Assistant: lilium brownii, radix Ophiopo-
gonis, asparagus fern, distributing to lung, nourishing
Yin and clearing away heat, moistening lung to arrest
cough; bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae, being slight cold in
nature, reducing phlegm and moistening lung; radix
stemonae, tussilago farfara, being warm in nature, warm-
ing lung and reducing phlegm, moistening lung to arrest
cough; the three medicines above are combined, mildly
regulating cold and heat, greatly strengthening the effi-
cacy of reducing phlegm and moistening lung. Comple-
ment: astragalus membr an a c eu s , tonifying Yang and
benefiting Qi, inducing diuresis to alleviate edema, de-
toxifying and expelling abscess; poria cocos, rizoma
atractylodis macrocephalae and liquorice, being com-
bined for warming middle-Jiao and tonifying deficiency,
helping spleen and stomach in developing and upwards
transferring nutrients to lung; cynanchum atratum, being
bitter in taste and cold in nature, eliminating deficiency
heat and treating ulcer and pyogenic infections; rhizoma
bletillae, stopping bleeding and eliminating carbuncle,
removing necrotic tissue and promoting granulation;
pseudo-ginseng, being warm in nature, stopping bleeding
and dissipating stasis, reducing swelling and alleviating
pain, wherein Yin and Yang are united to strengthen the
bleeding stopping efficacy.
Efficacy of Decoction 4: strengthening the efficacy of
clearing away heat and detoxifying, dissipating stasis and
alleviating pain based on description 1.
Prescription analysis of decoction: Principle: herba
patriniae, clearing away heat and detoxifying, eliminat-
ing carbuncle and expelling abscess, dissipating stasis
and alleviating pain. Assistant: Chinese violet, honey-
suckle, clearing away heat and detoxifying, cooling blood
and eliminating carbuncle; sargent gloryvine, clearing
away heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation
and alleviating pain, removing periappendicular abscess
and stomachache. Complement: semen coicis, Chinese
wax gourd kernel, clearing away lung heat and expelling
abscess; bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae, reducing phlegm
and moistening lung, softening hard lumps and dispelling
nodes; lilium brownii, being sweet in taste and cold in
nature and moistening lung, nourishing Yin and clearing
away heat; radix bupleuri, radix scutellariae, clearing
away stagnated fire of liver and gall, harmonizing Shao-
Yang; cortex moutan, radix paeoniae rubra together with
radix bupleuri, radix scutellariae, soothing liver-gall-
bladder, promoting blood circulation to remove blood
stasis; peicarpium arecae, dredging phlegm and alleviat-
ing water retention, guiding Qi downwards; rhizoma
bletillae, rhizoma imperatae, stopping bleeding and cool-
ing blood, removing necrotic tissue and promoting granu-
lation; massa medicata fermentata fujianensis, reducing
phlegm and helping digestion, strengthening the spleen
and stomach; and liquorice, moderating the property of
the mentioned herbs.
Prescription analysis of attached powder: in pre-
scription, astragalus membranaceus, tonifying Qi, in-
ducing diuresis to alleviate edema, detoxifying and ex-
pelling abscess; angelica sinensis, being warm in nature,
enriching blood and nourishing blood; radix paeoniae
rubra, enriching blood and invigorating blood circulation,
wherein Yin and Yang of two medicines above are united
to strengthen the efficacy of enriching blood and invigo-
rating blood circulation; frankincense, promoting qi and
invigorating blood circulation, and myrrh, invigorating
blood circulation and dissipating stasis, wherein the two
medicines above are combined to invigorate blood circu-
lation and dissipate stasis, reduce swelling and alleviate
pain, remove necrotic tissue and promote granulation;
pseudo-ginseng, invigorating blood circulation and dis-
sipating stasis, stopping bleeding and reducing swelling,
whose nature migrates without stagnation; pollen, clear-
ing away heat and promoting secretion of saliva, expel-
ling abscess and eliminating carbuncle; coptis chinensis,
capable of distributing to large intestine channel, clearing
away heat and promoting dieresis, purging fire and re-
moving toxin.
Efficacy of Decoction 5: strengthening the efficacy of
clearing away lung heat and reducing phlegm, relieving
swelling and alleviating pain based on description 1.
Prescription analysis: Principle: herba patriniae,
clearing away heat and detoxifying, eliminating carbon-
cle and expelling abscess, dissipating stasis and alleviat-
ing pain; houttuynia cordata, being acrid in taste and cold
in nature and distributing to lung, clearing away heat and
detoxifying, eliminating carbuncle and expelling abscess,
inducing diuresis for treating strangurtia. Assistant:
Chinese violet, honeysuckle, sargent gloryvine, cooling
blood and eliminating carbuncle, clearing away heat and
detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and alleviating
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
1511
pain, removing periappendicular abscess and stomach-
ache. Complement: semen coicis, Chinese wax gourd
kernel, clearing away lung heat and expelling abscess;
cortex mori radicis, being acrid scattered, bitter drop,
purging lung heat and alleviating water retention; inula
flower, descending Qi and reducing phlegm, ventilating
lung Qi and eliminating damp; folium eriobotryae, clear-
ing away lung heat and moistening dryness, reducing
phlegm and descending Qi, wherein the two medicines
above are combined to strengthen the efficacy of venti-
lating lung Qi and descending Qi; bulbus fritillariae
cirrhosae, clearing away lung heat and reducing phlegm,
softening hard lumps and dispelling nodes; tangerine pith,
activating Qi and reducing phlegm, activating meridians
and relieving pain, radix asteris, moistening lung and
descending Qi, reducing phlegm and stopping cough, and
tussilago farfara, warming lung, moistening lung and
reducing phlegm, wherein three medicines above are
combined to balance dampness and dryness and streng-
then the efficacy of reducing phlegm and activating me-
ridians; radix bupleuri, radix scutellariae, clearing away
stagnated fire of liver and gall, harmonizing ShaoYang;
cortex moutan, radix paeoniae rubra together with radix
bupleuri, radix scutellariae, soothing liver-gallbladder,
promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis; an-
gelica sinensis, nourishing blood, astragalus membra-
naceus, tonifying Qi, tonifying both Qi and blood to
nourish the source of engendering transformation, and
liquorice, moderating the property of the mentioned
herbs.
Efficacy of Decoction 6: strengthening the efficacy of
clearing away lung heat and reducing fire, relieving
swelling and alleviating pain based on lung description 1.
Prescription analysis of decoction: Principle: tu rtle
shell, distributing to Yin and removing heat, nourishing
Yin and dissipating stagnation, artemisia apiacea, being
aromatic and clear, leading pathogen outwards, wherein
exiting and entering nourish Yin and remove heat. Assis-
tant: dried radix rehmanniae, nourishing Yin and clearing
away heat, helping turtle shell in nourishing Yin and re-
moving deficiency heat. Complement: cortex lycii radicis,
radices stellariae dichotomae and blackend swallowwort
root, being bitter in taste and cold in nature, cooling
blood and removing deficiency heat; rhizome phragmitis,
lilium brownii, being sweet in taste and cold in nature,
moistening lung and nourishing Yin; semen coicis, Chi-
nese wax gourd kernel and peach kernel, clearing away
lung heat and expelling abscess, reducing phlegm and
dissipating stasis; platycodon grandiflorum, reducing
phlegm and expelling abscess; cortex albiziae, soothing
liver and relieving depression, promoting blood circula-
tion and eliminating carbuncle; and liquorice, moderating
the property of the mentioned herbs.
Prescription analysis of attached powder: Principle:
stir-bak ed squama manitis, promoting blood circulation
and removing stasis, eliminating carbuncle and expelling
abscess. Assistant: frankincense, promoting Qi and in-
vigorating blood circulation, and myrrh, invigorating
blood circulation and dissipating stasis, wherein the two
medicines above are combined to balance Qi and blood,
ventilate viscera, circulate meridians, invigorate blood
circulation and dissipate stasis, reduce swelling and
promote granulation; rhizoma sparganii, being a medi-
cine for regulating Qi in blood, removing blood stasis
and activating channels, curcuma zedoary, being a medi-
cine for invigorating blood circulation in Qi, relieving
stagnant Qi and removing blood stasis, wherein the two
medicines above are combined to enrich both Qi and
blood, invigorate blood circulation and dissipate stasis,
prom, promote Qi circulation and alleviate pain, dissipate
stasis and eliminate lumps. Complem ent: agelica sinensis,
enriching blood and reconciling blood, invigorating
blood circulation and alleviating pain, salvia miltiorrhiza,
cooling blood and eliminating carbuncle, removing stasis
and promoting tissue regeneration. Mediating guide:
pericarpium citri reticulatae viride and costustoot, sooth-
ing liver and harmonizing stomach, regulating Qi and
alleviating pain; massa medicata fermentata fujianensis,
helping spleen and stomach to transport, reducing phlegm
and removing stagnation; red ginseng, being warm and
vigorous, elevating Yang Qi to ascend liver Yang.
Taken together, we may consider that chemotherapy
regimens combined with Chinese herbal medicine has
greater potential efficacy and lower adverse effects
compared with conventional radiation and chemotherapy
in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer,
even when it is in advanced stage.
4. Conclusion
In the course of this combined treatment, it had been
shown that Chinese herbal medicine played an important
role in the therapy of breast mammary carcinoma. Chi-
nese herb might be an additional choice with its better
benefits and tolerability in the treatment of recurrent
breast mammary carcinoma. Thus there is a potential
alternative of chemotherapy tailored to individual patient.
5. Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the
Ministry of Health and Welfare of Nanjing, China (ZKX
2013001), and the Project of Scientific Education and
Vitalizing Health Service for Leading Talents and Inno-
vation Teams from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of
Jiangsu Province in 2011 (Jiangsu Health Scientific Edu-
cation [2011] No. 15). We thank Dr XD. Xia for his tech-
Open Access JCT
Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined Conventional Chemotherapy Regimens in
Advanced Recurrent Breast Mammary Carcinoma
Open Access JCT
1512
nical assistance during our treatment and kind review of
this report.
REFERENCES
[1] W. Chen, R. Zheng, S. Zhang, P. Zhao, G. Li, L. Wu and
J. He, “Report of Incidence and Mortality in China Can-
cer Registries,” Chinese Journal of Cancer ResearchRes,
Vol. 25, No. 1, 2013, pp. 10-21.
[2] Z. L. Tang, J. Bai, L. N. Gu, L. Li and D. Xue, “A Sys-
tematic Review: Epidemic Status of Prostate Cancer and
Breast Cancer from 2000 to 2010 in China,” China Can-
cer, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2013, pp. 260-265.
[3] T. Qin, Z. Yuan, R. Peng, B. Bai, Y. Shi, X. Teng, et al.,
“HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Tras-
tuzumab Treatment Obtain Prognosis Comparable with
that of HER2-Negative Breast Cancer Patients,” Journal
of OncoTargets and Therapy, Vol. 9, No. 6, 2013, pp.
341-347. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S40851
[4] X. Li, G. Y. Yang, X. X. Li, Y. Zhang, J. L. Yang, Chang.
J, et al., “Bensoussan A. Traditional Chinese Medicine in
Cancer Care: A Review of Controlled Clinical Studies
Published in Chinese,” Plos One, Vol. 8, No. 14, 2013, pp.
1-11.
[5] K. K. Chan, T. J. Yao and B. Jones, “The Use of Chinese
Herbal Medicine to Improve Quality of Life in Women
Undergoing Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer: a Double-
blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial with Immu-
nological Monitoring,” Annals of Oncology, Vol. 22, No.
10, 2011, pp. 2241-2249.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdq749
[6] M. Jiang, J. Yang, C. Zhang, B. Liu, K. Chan and H. Cao,
“Clinical Studies with Traditional Chinese Medicine in
the Past Decade and Future Research and Development,”
Planta Med, Vol. 76, No. 17, 2010, pp. 2048-2064.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1250456
[7] E. Ernst, “Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(CAM) and Cancer: the Kind Face of Complementary
Medicine,” International Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No.
6, 2009, pp. 499-500.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2009.08.005
[8] Q. J. Wang, W. X. Zhu and X. M. Xing, “Analysis of the
Incidence and Survival of Female Breast Cancer in Bei-
jing during the Last 20 Years,” Chinese Journal of On-
cology, Vol. 28, No. 3, 2006, pp. 208-210.
[9] W. Q. Chen, S. W. Zhang, R. S. Zheng, H. M. Zeng, X. N.
Zhou, P. Zhao, et al., “Report of Cancer Incidence and
Mortality in China, 2009,” China Cancer, Vol. 22, No. 1,
2013, pp. 2-12.
[10] N. Klafke, J. A. Eliott, G. A. Wittert and I. N. Olver,
“Prevalence and Predictors of Complementary and Alter-
native Medicine (CAM) Use by Men in Australian Cancer
Outpatient Services,” Annals of Oncology, Vol. 23, No. 6,
2012, pp. 1571-1578.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdr521
[11] L. C. Lo., C. Y. Chen., S. T. Chen., H. C. Chen., T. C.
Lee and C. S. Chang, “Therapeutic Efficacy of Tradi-
tional Chinese Medicine, Shen-Mai San, in Cancer Pa-
tients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: Study
Protocol for a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Con-
trolled Trial,” Trials, Vol. 13, 2012, p. 232.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-13-232
[12] I. Cohen, M. Tagliaferri and D. Tripathy, “Traditional
Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Breast Cancer,”
Seminars in Oncology, Vol. 29, No. 6, 2002, pp. 563-574.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/sonc.2002.50005