• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.617-630
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• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced side effects affect the quality of life and efficacy of treatment of cancer patients. Current approaches for treating the side effects of chemotherapy are poorly effective and may cause numerous harmful side effects. Therefore, developing new and effective drugs derived from natural nontoxic compounds for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects is necessary. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that Panax ginseng (PG) and its ginsenosides are undoubtedly non-toxic and effective options for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and hematopoietic inhibition. The mechanism focus on anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis, as well as the modulation of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), P62/keap1/Nrf2, c-jun Nterminal kinase (JNK)/P53/caspase 3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4)/JNK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT. Since a systemic review of the effect and mechanism of PG and its ginsenosides on chemotherapy-induced side effects has not yet been published, we provide a comprehensive summarization with this aim and shed light on the future research of PG.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2015

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, oral mucositis and colitis, and hepatotoxicity are common occurrence during chemotherapy. Often they result in unplanned admission and interruption of scheduled therapy. Additionally they have a negative influence on patient's therapeutic outcome and quality of life. The assessment of gastrointestinal side effects is dependent on clinician assignment of a grade established by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Continued interest of gastrointestinal side effects has allowed identifying patients at higher risk and providing effective treatments to relieve painful symptom. Finally, proper prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal side effects will be needed to improve patient's survival and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the hepatic and renal side effects of chemotherapy by using B16-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Methods : In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Results : Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Sophora flavescen recovered the reduction of WBC and RBC during cisplatin chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) which is a good indicator of renal toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effort. Conclusion : Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2007

Chemotherapy has many known side effects. Neuropathy is a common side effect when using cisplatin. The clinical course varies and depends on the agents used and their cumulative dose. Although symptoms can resolve completely, in most patients chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is either only partially reversible or completely irreversible. Current management for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is symptomatic relief using membrane stabilizing medications and antidepressants. Dysaesthesia and pain involving the feet and hands are described in traditional korean medicine. In traditional korean medicine, the pathogenesis is related to the inability to direct Qi and Blood to the extremities, and is associated with Qi, Blood, Yang and Kidney deficiencies. We report a case of a 52 years old female patient treated with acupuncture and bleeding treatment for the goal of improving the symptoms of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Further study and other medical method will be needed in order to improve the effect and determine the long-term effect of traditional korean medicine in treating Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.235-239
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• 2017

This case study describes the effect of Bojungikki-tang on chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Alopecia is a well-documented cause of distress to patients undergoing cancer treatment, but no approved pharmacological treatment exists for chemotherapy-induced hair loss. A 70-year-old female diagnosed with a cholangiocarcinoma and liver metastasis received chemotherapy, including gemcitabine and cisplatin, every three weeks. As a result of the continuous chemotherapy, she suffered various toxicity-related side effects, including bone marrow suppression, general weakness, nausea, peripheral numbness, and hair loss. Bojungikki-tang was initially administered to improve the patient's general weakness and fatigue. After three months of treatment, the patient's hair loss and general condition improved, and the color of the new hair was dark, despite the chemotherapy. The treatment did not improve other symptoms, such as bone marrow suppression and peripheral numbness. This case suggests that Bojungikki-tang could have a beneficial effect on chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2023

Objectives: To report the improvement of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and pantalgia with integrative cancer treatment on adverse effects of chemotherapy in a breast cancer patient. Methods: A 63-year-old female patient who has been diagnosed with breast cancer got treated for 103 days with integrative cancer treatment including acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, physiotherapies, hand and foot bath to decrease side effects of chemotherapy. The patient was also treated Western immunotherapies like Thymosin, Viscum album. Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide was applied and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN), pantalgia and nausea occured. The efficacy of treatment was measured by a numeric rating scale(NRS) of symptoms, National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event(NCI-CTCAE) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) Performance Status Scale. Results: The NRS scroes for CIPN, pantalgia, nausea were improved. There was no adverse effects of 3 or higher assessed by the NCI-CTCAE. The ECOG grade improved from grade 2 to 1. Conclusions: This study suggests that integrative cancer treatment could improve CIPN, pantalgia after chemotherapy in breast cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.945-949
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• 2005

The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the pancreatic & cardiac side effects of chemotherapy were studied by using Bl6-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Anticancer drugs widely used in clinical situation. Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of amylase (AMY) which is a good indicator of pancreatic toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effect. Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.8
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• 2022

5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and vincristine are chemotherapy agents used to treat various cancers, such as breast cancer and lymphoma for decades, and their effects on cancer have been proven. On the other hand, these anti-cancer drugs cause fatal side effects, including immunosuppression. This study investigated whether sonicated Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterin (B. bronchiseptica) can attenuate the immunosuppression of spleen cells induced by these chemotherapy agents and which subsets of spleen cells were affected. B. bronchiseptica increased the metabolic activity of spleen cells treated with 3 anti-cancer drugs. Cell death analysis using Annexin V/propidium iodide showed that B. bronchiseptica markedly decreased the death of spleen cells. The subsets of spleen cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a surface marker-specific antibody. B. bronchiseptica increased nitric oxide production in the spleen cells treated with anti-cancer drugs (p < 0.0001). Despite the pharmacological effects of anti-cancer drugs, many patients suffer from the fatal side effects of immunosuppression. This study provides valuable information on how to overcome chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.128-136
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• 2009

Objective: To investigate a clinical worth of combination therapy of Oriental and conventional cancer treatment focusing on reduction of chemotherapy-induced side effects. Methods: 110 patients treated by Oriental treatment after intravenous or oral chemotherapy were reviewed, from January, 2005 to April, 2008 at the East-West Cancer Center of Dunsan Oriental hospital. Symptoms were investigated by National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0. Results: 80% patients of 110 patients had at least one symptom among eight main side effects (neutropenia, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, constipation, headache). The presence of those was as follows: nausea 63%, anorexia 61 %, neutropenia 45%, vomiting 28%, constipation 21 %, headache 19%, diarrhea 11 %, and stomatitis 10%. Except neutropenia, above symptoms has ameliorated by Oriental treatment in seven treat days. Conclusions: This study first presented the general characteristics of cancer patients treated by Oriental and conventional therapy, and showed a clinical potential of combinational therapy aiming to chemotherapy-induced side effects.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2023

One of the most common side effects of chemotherapeutic agents is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The occurrence of CIPN is increasing as the survival rate of patients with cancer improves and the cumulative dose or duration of neurotoxic drugs increases. Approximately 30-40% of patients receiving neurologically toxic drugs experience CIPN, which eventually increases the burden of medical expenses. However, preventive measures against CIPN have not yet been established. Clinical trials have tested various drugs for the management of neuropathic pain, but only duloxetine has shown any significant effect. Further studies should evaluate nonpharmaceutical treatments, such as exercise.