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Traditional Chinese medicine monotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A Case Report
Xinyu Feng1, Jianlong Ke, Xiaorong Chen
1Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, P.R. China.
Rationale:
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy. It typically advances quickly, spreads distantly at an early stage, and carries a dismal prognosis, factors that collectively present formidable obstacles to effective treatment. To date, evidence regarding the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used alone in extensive-stage SCLC remains sparse.
Patient Concerns:
A 79-year-old man presented with a persistent cough, exertional shortness of breath, hemoptysis with pale-red sticky sputum, and a headache localized to the right forehead, accompanied by difficulty sleeping at night.
Diagnoses:
Imaging and histopathology confirmed extensive-stage SCLC with right frontal lobe metastasis.
Interventions:
The patient refused chemotherapy/immunotherapy and received individualized TCM treatment.
Outcomes:
Serial imaging showed a partial response; symptoms markedly resolved; overall survival reached 15.5 months.
Lessons:
While findings from a single case must be interpreted cautiously, this experience suggests TCM might contribute to improved outcomes in select patients with extensive-stage SCLC. Further research is needed to clarify its biological mechanisms and define its potential role in clinical practice.
