Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2018. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Nov 27, 2018; 10(11): 799-806
Published online Nov 27, 2018. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i11.799
Role of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Sheng-Yan Xi, Gerald Yosel Minuk
Sheng-Yan Xi, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Xiamen University, Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian Province, China
Gerald Yosel Minuk, Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
Author contributions: Xi SY wrote the paper; Minuk GY gave guidance and critically revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Gerald Yosel Minuk, MD, Professor, Head, Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada. gerald.minuk@umanitoba.ca
Telephone: +1-204-7893204
Received: May 8, 2018
Peer-review started: May 8, 2018
First decision: June 5, 2018
Revised: September 13, 2018
Accepted: October 11, 2018
Article in press: October 12, 2018
Published online: November 27, 2018
Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have been employed for centuries in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous reviews of this topic have focused on certain aspects of TCM treatment rather than an overall assessment of their value and mechanisms of action. Both the Chinese and English medical literatures were reviewed to identify where TCM might be of value in the treatment of HCC and the justification for such treatment. TCM treatment corrects the “internal disequilibriums” thought to be responsible for the development, growth, and spread of the tumor. It has also been used to manage symptoms associated with HCC and the adverse effects of chemo- and radiation-therapies. Recent research has documented the precise effects of TCM on tumor biology. There are also increasing efforts to identify which of the many components of TCM herbal remedies are primarily responsible for these beneficial effects. This review outlines the benefits of TCM treatment of HCC and the laboratory data describing their anti-tumor properties.

Keywords: Hepatoma, Herbal medicine, Liver disease, Liver, Cancer

Core tip: Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) are commonly employed by patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review identifies which herbal concoctions are most frequently recommended by TCM authorities. TCMs serve to correct internal imbalances that contribute to HCC. TCMs favorably alter HCC cell biology.