Systematic Assessment of Chinese Medicine Compounds for Mitigating Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Anthracycline chemotherapy is highly effective in treating various cancers but is associated with significant cardiotoxicity. Chinese herbal compounds have shown promise in mitigating this adverse effect, warranting systematic evaluation for clinical applicability.

This study seeks to systematically assess the effectiveness of Chinese herbal compounds in managing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity via meta-analysis. The objective is to establish an evidence-based framework for their clinical use in preventing and treating this condition.

This study employed a systematic review and meta-analysis design. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented across multiple databases, including CNKI, VIP, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data collection involved extracting information on the efficacy of Chinese herbal compounds in treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. The primary outcome measures included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK), and ST-T abnormality. The risk of bias in these studies was assessed following Cochrane Handbook guidelines. Meta-analysis of outcome indicators was conducted utilizing RevMan 5.4.

A total of 10 RCTs involving 748 patients met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that Chinese herbal compounds significantly enhance left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) while reducing serum levels of cTnI, CK-MB, and CK. Additionally, the compounds demonstrate a significant improvement in ST-T abnormality.

Chinese herbal compounds exhibit promising potential in ameliorating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. These findings underscore the potential utility of Chinese herbal medicine as an adjunctive therapy in managing this condition. Further research is warranted to explain the underlying mechanisms and optimize their clinical application.