A Brief Review on the Experimental Aspects of Bojungikki-Tang in Cancer

Kim, Dongryul; Kim, Wonnam

doi:10.18311/jnr/2017/18198

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In an experimental study, BJIKT had anti-cancer effects in lung cancer by increasing the rate of apoptosis [ 21 , 26 ] and increasing the therapeutic effect of conventional chemotherapy. [ 23 ] A clinical study reported that BJIKT was effective as an adjuvant treatment, enhancing conventional treatment in patients with NSCLC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 16 – 18 ] In addition, BJIKT has been used to treat cancer-related symptoms, such as fatigue, anorexia, and cachexia [ 19 , 20 ] and has anticancer effects itself in several cancers. [ 21 ] In particular, experimental and clinical studies suggest that BJIKT is effective as an adjuvant treatment, as it enhances conventional treatments and increases immune function in patients with NSCLC. [ 13 , 22 – 24 ] However, the effect of BJIKT on survival outcome in advanced NSCLC has not been investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long-term progression-free survival in a patient with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with low-dose gefitinib and traditional herbal medicine

Lee

Choi³

et al. 2021

Medicine

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Rationale: Gefitinib is a first-line palliative chemotherapy drug used to treat advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who have an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. However, approximately two-thirds of NSCLC patients with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor experience dermatological toxicity. Cutaneous toxicity is usually not life threatening but can necessitate modification or discontinuation of medication in severe cases. In this case, despite a reduction in the dose of gefitinib due to side effects, combined treatment with modified Bojungikki-tang (BJKIT) increased progression-free survival (PFS) in an advanced NSCLC patient. Patient concerns: An 83-year-old Asian woman presented with chief complaints of chronic cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and anorexia. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC (T2aN3M1), adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the lymph node, brain, and bone based on image scan and biopsy. An EGFR deletion was detected in exon 19. Interventions: The patient was treated with gefitinib (250 mg/d) and traditional herbal medicine, modified Bojungikki-tang (BJIKT). However, after 1 year of combination therapy, gefitinib was tapered down to once per week while modified BJIKT was maintained. Outcomes: A partial response was achieved, but after 3 months severe papulopustular skin rashes developed and became aggravated with time. Thus, the gefitinib dose was reduced. However, the PFS has been maintained for approximately 78 months. Lessons: Despite the reduction in gefitinib dose due to side effects, the combined treatment of gefitinib and the modified BJIKT has maintained a PFS of over 78 months, indicating that modified BJIKT enhanced the anti-cancer effect of gefitinib in a patient with advanced NSCLC harboring the EFGR mutation, and may have delayed acquired resistance, the main limitation on the efficacy of gefitinib. Further investigations including clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%