Reduction of Chemotherapy Side Effects Using the Tonify Spleen and Fortify the Stomach Formulas Complementary Treatment

The following four research methods, “National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan and literature mining”, “the experimental design of pharmacological study”，“quality analysis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)” and “analysis of herb-drug interaction” were applied to explore the complementary effects of TCM formulas, when combined with chemotherapeutic agents. The combination effects of TCM-drug will be including the correlation between prolonged survival days of cancer patients and reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. In our previous study, we found that the most frequently used TCMs by breast cancer patients were Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zhi Tang (XSLJZT) and Gui Pi Tang both of which prolonged the survival days of patients covered by NHIRD. In another study, P-388 bearing CDFi mice co-treated with XSLJP and paclitaxel, significantly increased the survival days and reduced paclitaxel-induced mechano hyperalgesia in rats. Therefore, we suggest XSLJP that may be a core formula in TCM for treatment of cancer. On the other hand, XSLJZT, LJZT and SJZT all have shown to enhance the WBC level from gemcitabine-induced leukopenia in mice. Therefore, we will explore the beneficial effects of the tonify the stomach and fortify the spleen formulas (T-TCMs) in combination of chemotherapeutic agent using in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor models. Also the possible reduction of adverse effects of co-treatment on the induced adverse reaction due to the chemotherapeutic agent is investigated. The phytochemical distribution of T-TCMs will be analyzed by chromatographic technique and established the quality reference. Finally, the interaction of T-TCMs and chemotherapeutic agent will be measured by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and develop the new complementary medicines for the reduction side effects of due to chemotherapy. Aims 1. This project will collect clinical anticancer formulas of TCM from NHIRD, and explore the principle of these formulas by applying the fundamental theories of TCM. 2. Combining the clinical experience of TCM doctor designed pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies shall evaluate beneficial effects of T-TCM. We expect the development a clinical applicable new complementary medicines which can reduce side effects brought by chemotherapy.