Sanhuang Decoction Controls Tumor Microenvironment by Ameliorating Chronic Stress in Breast Cancer: A Report of Ninety Cases

Abstract

Long-term endocrine treatment which results in estrogen deprivation causes chronic stress associated with a series of uncomfortable symptoms leading not only to a decrease in quality of life but also to cancer recurrence, which may be mediated primarily through the enhanced expression of angiogenic factors, as well as a series of inflammatory microenvironmental changes that favor tumor progression. In this study, we designed a clinical trial and aimed to explore the effects of Sanhuang Decoction (SHD) treatment on chronic stress, inflammatory factors, and breast cancer recovery. A total of 90 patients with breast cancer who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomly allocated to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received the standard endocrine treatment and the traditional Chinese medicine decoction known as SHD. The control group received the standard endocrine treatment only. The treatment period was 6 months. The modified Kupperman Menopausal Index, the self-rating anxiety scale, and the self-rating depression scale were evaluated once per month. The body microenvironment plasma indices related to chronic stress, such as oxidative and antioxidative stress markers, inflammatory factors, hemorheology, coagulation, lipid and D-dimer, immunologic functions, tumor biomarkers, and angiogenic factors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured before and after 6 months of treatment. After treatment for 5 months, the scores in the treatment group decreased to nearly normal levels and the control group showed no significant improvement. After treatment for 6 months, all indices related to the body microenvironment, as well as the tumor biomarkers and carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 153, and angiogenic factor VEGF levels improved significantly to normal levels in the treatment group. Our primary research showed that treatment with SHD effectively improved the quality of life of breast cancer patients by facilitating a change in the body microenvironment that controlled tumor growth and prevented drug resistance.Clinical Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier ChiCTR-IIR-2000041413. Date of registration: 2017-06-07 (retrospective registration).

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Breast Cancer: A Review

“…Sanhuang Decoction can effectively relieve chronic stress state and control the tumor microenvironment by improving chronic oxidative stress within the body. 100 As immunosuppressors, MDSCs enhance T-cell apoptosis and inhibit natural killer cell antioxidant activity. Yanghe Tang is able to reduce the development of 4T1 lymphoma cells through a reduction in the number of MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment.…”

Efficacy of electroacupuncture versus transcutaneous electrical acupoints stimulation on subclinical premature ovarian insufficiency: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Terminologies and Definitions for Normal and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding [28], as defined by the following parameters. The modified Kupperman Menopausal Index is widely used internationally, and its role in clinical practice is well established [29][30][31].…”

Effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Hong Huang decoction, on myocardial injury in breast cancer patients who underwent anthracycline-based chemotherapy

“…Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with a history of thousands of years of clinical practice, has noticeably attracted the attention of clinicians (11,12). Hong Huang Decoction (HHD) is a type of TCM composed of Rhodiola rosea, astragalus, turmeric, and rhubarb and is able to suppress oxidative stress in vivo (13).…”