Safety and Efficacy of Combining Immunotherapy with Herbal Medicine in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, but not all patients respond, and immune-related adverse events are common. Herbal medicines with immunomodulatory properties are often used concurrently. This review assesses the safety and efficacy of this combination.

Methods: A systematic search was performed for clinical trials and observational studies that reported outcomes for patients receiving ICIs concurrently with any herbal medicine or defined herbal formula (e.g., from TCM).

Results: Ten studies, mostly small cohort studies and case series, were identified. The data suggested that certain herbal formulas, such as those containing Astragalus or Ginseng, may enhance the response rates to ICIs in lung cancer and melanoma. Importantly, the combination did not appear to increase the rate of immune-related adverse events.

Discussion: Preliminary evidence suggests that combining certain immunomodulatory herbs with ICIs may be safe and could potentially improve efficacy. This is a critical area for future research, as a well-defined herbal regimen could broaden the benefit of immunotherapy.

Conclusion: Early evidence suggests that combining herbal medicine with immunotherapy is safe and may improve clinical outcomes.