Traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma: From bench to bedside

Table 2 Clinical study of traditional Chinese medicine for hepatocarcinoma treatment

Treatments	TCM therapeutic principles	Herbs/herbl formula	Disease	No. of patients	Effects	Ref.
Surgery, Jiedu Granule and Cinobufacini Injection	Detoxifying and dissipating mass	Jiedu Granule: Shi-Jian-Chuan (Salvia chinensis), Mao-Ren-Shen (Actinidia valvata), Yi-Yi-Ren (Semen Coicis), Shan-Zha (Fructus Crataegi), Shen-Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), etc.	Hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection	120	Postpone tumor recurrence and metastasis, prolong survival time	[72]
Surgery, Ruanjianhugan Tablets	Detoxifying, dispersing stasis, tonifying Qi and Yin	Ku-Shen (Sophora flavescens Ait.), Xia-Ku-Cao (Prunella), Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), etc.	Small hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection	399	Prolong overall survival time	[73]
Surgery, Jiedu Xiaozheng Yin and Fuzheng Yiliu Recipe	Detoxifying and dissipating mass, tonifying Qi and Yin	Jiedu Xiaozheng Yin: Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd), Shan-Ci-Gu (Pseudobulbus Cremastrae), Ku-Shen (Sophora flavescens Ait.), et al. Fuzheng Yiliu Recipe: Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), Shan-Yao (Dioscorea opposita), etc.	Stage III hepatocarcinoma before and after surgical resection	72	Prolong survival time and prevent recurrence	[74]
JDF Granule and TACE	Detoxifying and dispersing stasis	Mao-Ren-Shen (Actinidia valvata), Shi-Jian-Chuan (Salvia chinensis), Shan-Ci-Gu (Pseudobulbus Cremastrae), Ji-Nei-Jin (gizzard membrane of Gallus gallus domesticus)	Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma	165	Prolong survival time	[75]
Shentao Ruangan Pill and TACE	Detoxifying, dispersing stasis, tonifying Qi and Yang	Yin-Chen-Hao (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.), Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd.), Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), E-Zhu (Curcuma kwangsiensis or Curcuma phaeocaulis or Curcuma wenyujin), Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), etc.	Middle-advanced stage large hepatocarcinoma	85	Prolong survival time	[76]
Ganai No. I and No. II and TACE	Tonifying Qi and Yin, detoxifying and dissipating mass	Ganai No.I: Dang-Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), E-Zhu (Curcuma kwangsiensis or Curcuma phaeocaulis or Curcuma wenyujin), Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd.), etc. Ganai No. II: Xue-Jie (Daemonorops draco BL.), Ru-Xiang (Boswellia carterii Birdw), Mo-Yao (Commiphpra myrrha Engl.), Zao-Xiu ( Sm.), Long-Kui (Solanum nigrum L.), etc.	Middle-advanced stage liver cancer	60	Prolong survival time, prevent recurrence and alleviate HACE induce leukocytopenia	[77]
Jinlong Capsule and TACE or RFA	Detoxifying and dissipating mass	Tian-Long (Gecko), Jin-Qin-Bai-Hua-She (Multibanded krait), Qi-She (Long-nosed pit viper)	Unresectable hepatocarcinoma	98, 76	Enhance short-term effect of TACE and improve quality of life; enhance RFA effects, reduce RFA induced liver injury, improve QOL and immune function	[78,89]
Syndrome differentiation based TCM therapy and TACE	Syndrome differentiation based TCM therapy	Xiao-Yao-San/Chai-Hu-Shu-Gan-San, Hua-Yu-Xiao-Liu-Tang, Long-Dan-Xie-Gan-Tang, Yi-Guan-Jian + Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan	Middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	67	Enhance short-term efficacy and reduce adverse effect of TACE, improve immune function and QOL	[79]
Shelian Capsule and TACE	Detoxifying, dissipating mass, tonifying Qi	Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd.), Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum), Dan-shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), etc.	Early middle and advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	120	Enhance short-term efficacy of TACE, improve immune function and QOL	[80]
Matrine Injection and TACE	Clearing heat and detoxifying	Matrine, etc.	Hepatocarcinoma after TACE	122	Protect liver function	[81]
Jia Wei Si Jun Zi Tang and TACE	Tonifying spleen, nourishing Qi, soothing liver-Qi stagnation, and dissolving stasis	Dang-Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Fo-Shou (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis), Dan-shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), etc.	Advance stage of liver cancer	65	Protect liver function	[82]
Vascular Embolizing Agent	Vascular embolizing	Yu-Jin (Curcuma aromatic), Bai-Ji (Bletilla striata)	Stage II and III hepatocarcinoma (Yu-Jin), stage I-III hepatocarcinoma (Bai-Ji)	32 (Yu-Jin), 106 (Bai-Ji), 56 (Bai-Ji)	Vascular embolizing agent	[83-85]
Aidi Injection and RFA or MWA	Dissipating mass, tonifying Qi and Yin	Ban-Mao (Mylabris), Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), etc.	Middle-late stage hepatocarcinoma, stage II and III hepatocarcinoma	89, 61	Relieve the impairment of cool-tip radiofrequency ablation on hepatic function, improve immune function and reduce relapse; elevate MWA efficacy, improve QOL, immune and liver function	[86,92]
Xiaoaiping Injection and RFA	Dissolving stasis	Xiaoaiping injection	Middle-late stage hepatocarcinoma, advanced hepatocarcinoma	31, 68	Enhance RFA effects and reduce non-bacterial inflammatory response; inhibit tumor growth, improve QOL and immune function, increase progression-free survival	[87,99]
Tianzhicao Capsule and RFA	Detoxifying, dissolving stasis, tonifying Qi and Yin	Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), Dan-shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Gou-Qi (Lycium barbarum), etc.	Small hepatocarcinoma	90	Improve QOL and immune function, prolong survival time	[88]
Fuzheng Yiliu Recipe and MWA		Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Ling-Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait.), etc.	Middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	60	Enhance MWA efficacy, improve immune and liver function	[90]
Shenqi Mixture and MWA	Tonifying Qi	Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), etc.	Stage II and III hepatocarcinoma	72	Enhance MWA efficacy, prolong survival time, improve QOL and immune function and relieve symptoms	[91]
Qiankun Capsule and HIFU	Tonifying spleen, detoxifying, and dissipating mass	Tai-Zi-Shen (Pseeudostellaria heterophylla), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Bai-Shao (Paeonia lactiflora), Xia-Ku-Cao (Prunella), Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), etc.	Stage II and III hepatocarcinoma	60	Enhance therapeutic effects and improve immune function	[93]
Fu-Zhen-Yang-Yin Formula and HIFU	Tonifying Qi and Yin, detoxifying, and dissipating mass	Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Tai-Zi-Shen (Pseeudostellaria heterophylla), Yin-Chen-Hao (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.), Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd.), Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum), etc.	Advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	60	Alleviate HIFU induced fever and liver function damage	[94]
Syndrome Differentiation Based TCM Therapy and Sorafenib	Syndrome differentiation based TCM therapy	Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Shan-Yao (Dioscorea opposita), Long-Kui (Solanum nigrum L.), Bai-Shao (Paeonia lactiflora), etc.	Advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	18	Enhance therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib and prolong survival time	[95]
Cinobufagin tablet and Sorafenib	Dissipating mass	Cinobufagin, etc.	Middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	59	Enhance effects of sorafenib, improve QOL and liver function and relieve pain	[96]
Oleum fructus bruceas intervention, oral intake of Ganji Decoction and external application of Ailitong	Tonifying spleen, soothing liver-Qi stagnation, detoxifying, dissipating mass	Dang-Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Chai-Hu (Bupleurum scorzonerifolfium Willd), Bai-Shao (Paeonia lactiflora), Tu-Bie-Chong (Eupolyphaga gasinensis Walk.), Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd.), etc.	Middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	97	Prolong survival time, improve QOL and relieve pain	[97]
Hepatic artery perfusion/embolization with turmeric oil microballoon, cinobufotalin and Aidi injection, and Syndrome Differentiation Based TCM Therapy	Tonifying Qi and Yin, and dissipating mass	Yu-Jin (Curcuma aromatic), cinobufotalin, Ban-Mao (Mylabris), Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), etc.	Stage I to III hepatocarcinoma	41	Inhibit tumor growth with fewer adverse reactions, and ameliorate fatigue and anorexia	[98]
Cinobufacini Injection	Dissipating masses	Cinobufagin, etc.	Middle-advanced stage hepatocarcinoma	100	Inhibiting tumor growth, protecting liver function and prolonging survival time	[100]
Norcantharidin and herbal decoction	Tonifying spleen and Qi, and dissolving stasis	Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Yin-Chen-Hao (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.), Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum), Fu-Ling (Poria cocos), Tian-Long (Gecko), etc.	Elderly patients with late stage hepatocarcinoma	79	Inhibit tumor growth, prolong survival time and improve QOL	[101]
Jianpi Fuzheng Decoction	Tonifying Qi and Yin	Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Yi-Yi-Ren (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), Dang-Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), etc.	Late stage hepatocarcinoma	60	Ameliorate TCM syndrome, improve QOL and immune function and prolong survival time	[102]
Jianpi Yiliu Decoction	Tonifying spleen and Qi, detoxifying, and dissolving stasis	Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceous), Dang-Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), Yu-Jin (Curcuma aromatic), etc.	Late stage hepatocarcinoma	30	Ameliorate symptoms, improve QOL and protect liver function	[102]
Jiawei Yiguanjian	Tonifying Yin, clearing heat and draining dampness	Bei-Sha-Shen (Glehnia littoralis), Mai-Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus), Dang-Gui (Angelica sinensis), Gou-Qi (Lycium barbarum), Chui-Pen-Cao (Sedum sarmentosum Bunge), etc.	Late stage hepatocarcinoma	100	Prolong survival time, ameliorate TCM syndrome, and improve QOL and immune function	[104]

TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine; TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; MWA: Microwave ablation; QOL: Quality of life; HIFU: High intensity focus ultrasound; HACE: Hepatic artery chemoembolization.