Traditional Chinese medicine as complementary treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is an extremely recurrent and very malignant tumour. It is also the most common liver malignancy. The efficient treatment of the disease is hindered by high metastasis, recurrence rate, and drug resistance. Recent studies have shown a strong association between the malignant hepatocellular carcinoma phenotype and cancer stem cells. The treatment of squamous cell carcinoma is an important control strategy. Recurrence and metastasis of advanced liver cancers were reported to be abated by conventional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine compounds or extracts with anti-cancer stem cell activity.
Objective: The aim of this review is to examine the role of extracts used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer stem cells and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: In this review of scientific literatures proved that some novel chemical formulas such as monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) derived compounds are reported to inhibit squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. This review may contribute to the development of a new cancer therapy tool, particularly for the treatment of liver cancer.
Results: The current study highlighted the global scenario of Chinese medicine research on Hepatocellular carcinoma. This review will provide interesting results in terms of more health policy devolution to address existing health challenges.
Conclusions: The prognostics and survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas may be enhanced by targeted treatment of this major cell population. Traditional Chinese medicine has shown benefits to both tumour progression and drug resistance, as well as to the prevention of recurrence and metastasis. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(4): 320-327]
Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Chinese medicine, herbal treatment, squamous cell carcinoma, cancer stem cells.