Astragalus-Containing Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lei Shen; Si Ra Gwak; Zhen Yang Cui; Jong Cheon Joo; Soo Jung Park

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.587021

Astragalus-Containing Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Front Pharmacol. 2021 Jul 30:12:587021. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.587021. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Lei Shen¹, Si Ra Gwak², Zhen Yang Cui³, Jong Cheon Joo², Soo Jung Park⁴

Affiliations

¹ Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.
² Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, South Korea.
³ Rehabilitation Medicine College, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
⁴ Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, Jeonju, South Korea.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus-containing Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with chemotherapy (CT) for the treatment of cervical cancer. Methods: Ten electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Korean databases, and Chinese medical databases, were systematically searched up to July 2020. All randomized controlled trials using Astragalus-containing CHM combined with CT to treat cervical cancer were included. Results: A total of 19 trials were included in the analysis. Compared with the control group, the Astragalus-containing CHM combined with CT group showed a significantly increased tumor response (complete and partial response (CR and PR)) (risk ratio [RR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.33, p < 0.00001) and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.46-2.17, p < 0.00001). This group also displayed remarkably reduced CT toxicity. Conclusion: Our study suggests that Astragalus-containing CHM might be a potential option for cervical cancer to enhance the curative efficacy and reduce CT toxicity.

Keywords: Chinese herbal medicine; astragalus; cervical cancer; chemotherapy; meta-analysis; systematic review.