East meets West: The winning combination against BRAF V600E metastatic colorectal cancer

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with BRAF V600E mutation have a poor prognosis despite the implementation of multiple treatment strategies. The integration of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine in treating BRAF mutant mCRC has garnered increasing attention. Recent studies indicate that combining traditional Chinese and modern Western medical approaches not only extend survival but also reduces the risk of mortality in patients with BRAF V600E mutant mCRC. This approach is particularly effective for colorectal cancer patients who have right-sided colon involvement, liver metastasis, or a history of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In this treatment combination, traditional Chinese medicine may offer symptomatic relief and improve quality of life, while Western medicine targets the disease more aggressively with advanced pharmacological agents. Ongoing research is crucial to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying these benefits and to optimize treatment protocols.