Treatment of lung cancer by acupuncture combined with medicine based on pathophysiological mechanism: A review

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. There are an estimated 2.2 million new cases and 1.79 million deaths each year. Over the past 2 decades, our understanding of disease biology, the use of predictive biomarkers, and improvements in therapeutic approaches have made significant progress and transformed the outcomes of many patients. Treatment is determined by the subtype and stage of the cancer; however, the effect of personalized treatment remains unsatisfactory. The use of Chinese medicines has attracted increasing attention worldwide. Chinese medicine treatment of lung cancer has few side effects, which can effectively prolong the survival expectation of patients and improve their quality of life, and has attracted increasing attention. Based on the pathophysiological mechanism of lung cancer reported in modern medical research, this article explores the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with medicine in the treatment of lung cancer.