Use of compound Chinese medicine in the treatment of lung cancer.

Traditional Chinese/herbal medicine (TCM) is now commonly used by cancer patients of Asian ethnicity to supplement or replace prescribed treatments. The overall survival rate for lung cancer has not improved significantly in the past several decades; it remains the leading cause of cancer death. Much more attention has been paid by clinicians and researchers to the possible use of compound Chinese medicine (CCM) as effective anti-lung cancer medicines. In this review, we briefly summarize the clinical and experimental status of numerous CCMs recently developed primarily in China for the treatment of lung cancer, including formulations, treatment effectiveness, and molecular mechanisms. By presenting this information, our goal is to possibly open up new future avenues for the practice of lung cancer treatment.