Colorectal Cancer
Bowel Cancer, Colon Cancer, Rectal CancerColorectal Cancer is the third most common form of Cancer in the US and the second cause of Cancer deaths.. It is more common in developed countries and also more common in the poor.
Risk Factors:
- being over 50 and male
- being poor
- diet low in fiber, high in animal protein, saturated fats and calories
- drinking and smoking
- obesity, inactivity
- inflammatory bowel disease, Diabetes
- Polyps in the colon or rectum
Symptoms:
- changes in bowel habits, constipation or diarrhea
- feeling that the bowels have not fully emptied
- black feces from blood in the stool or fresh blood (37%)
- abdominal pain (34%), bloating, feeling of fullness
- fatigue, weight loss
- anemia (23%)
More advanced cases may have bowel obstruction, peritonitis or perforation.
Stages of Colorectal Cancer:
- Stage 0 – Cancer only in the lining of the colon
- Stage 1 – Cancer through the inner lining of the colon without spreading (91% 5-year survival)
- Stage 2 – Cancer has spread into the wall of the colon without spreading (72% 5-year survival)
- Stage 3 – Cancer has spread to local lymph nodes
- Stage 4 – Cancer has metastasized to other parts such as Liver or Lung (14% 5-year survival)
A number of countries have begun screening people, often from 50 years of age, which has led to early detection and lower mortality. Around 11% of diagnosis comes from routine screening.
Traditional Medicine
In Traditional Medicine, Bowel Cancer was not generally recognised but may be included in categories such as Bleeding from the Bowels. However, according to Traditional Medicine theory, diet and lifestyle factors are important for correcting the environment which allows Cancer to grow, especially in Cancer of the digestive system. Long-term tonic formulas along with anti-cancer herbs are standard practice in modern traditional medicine. Herbal enemas can also be a useful adjunct.
TCM pattern differentiation for Colorectal Cancer
- Damp-Heat–loose bowels, abdominal distention, red tongue with a smooth yellow or dirty coat
- Spleen & Stomach Qi Deficiency–loose bowels or alternating constipation, low energy, fatigue, poor appetite and digestion
- Qi and Blood Deficiency–fatigue, poor appetite, pale face and tongue, weak pulse
- Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency–dry bowels, dry mouth and throat, tongue cracks, faint pulse
Synergistic with Chemo
1. Notoginseng San Qi enhances effect of 5-fluorouracil on human colorectal cancer cells
Herbs effective in Chemo-Resistant Colorectal Cancer
The following herbs showed P-glycoprotein inhibition which is related to multi cdrug-resistant Colorectal Cancer: They potentially can reverse chemo-resistance and help increase effectiveness of chemotherapy. (see here)
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Black & Long Pepper Turmeric Licorice Salvia Dan Shen |
Schisandra Wu Wei Zi Andrographis Coptis Huang Lian Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao |
Stephania Han Fang Ji Sinomenium Qing Feng Teng Daphne Yuan Hua Toad Venom (Chan Su) |
Special Formula
Pien Tze Huang
Bezoar (Niu Huang)
Musk (She Xiang)
Notoginseng San Qi
Snake bile
Proven efficacy against Colorebctal Cancer. It inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis. (See here)
To prevent side effects of Chemo
Shao Yao Gan Cao Decoction
Paeonia Bai Shao
Licorice (Gan Cao)
Shown effective to prevent onset of Neuropathy and an effectiveness of 65% in treating advanced colorectal Cancer patients with neuropathy due to oxaliplatin.
Gui Long Tong Luo Decoction
Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi)
Astragalus Huang Qi
Earthworm
Safflower (Hong Hua)
Dang Gui
Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng
Paeonia Bai Shao
Zedoary (E Zhu)
Licorice (Gan Cao)
Found effective against oxaliplatin-induced Neurotoxicity. (See here)
Niuche Shenqi Wan
Rehmannia Shu Di Huang
Achyranthis Niu Xi
Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
Dioscorea Shan Yao
Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
Paeonia Mu Dan Pi
Cinnamomi Rou Gui
Aconitum Fu Zi
Poria Fu Ling
Found effective against oxaliplatin-induced Neurotoxicity. (See here)
Gui Zhi Jia Zhu Fu Decoction
Cinnamon Rou Gui
Aconitum Fu Zi
Ginger (Gan Jiang)
Jujube (Da Zao)
Licorice (Gan Cao)
Atracylodes Bai Zhu
For Neuropathy in patients taking FOLFOX regimen. (See here)
Ban Xia Xie Xin Decoction
Pinellia Ban Xia
Scutellaria Huang Qin
Ginseng
Coptis Huang Lian
Licorice
Ginger (Gan Jiang)
Jujube (Da Zao)
Attenuate chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and mucositis in Gastric and Colorectal Cancer patients. (See here)
Research
–Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery–Chinese Herbal Medicine and Fluorouracil-Based Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: A Quality-Adjusted Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
–Efficacy of Herbal Medicines Intervention for Colorectal Cancer Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity — a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Herbs with Proven Effects:
Andrographis
–Andrographolide Exhibits Anticancer Potential Against Human Colon Cancer Cells
–Andrographolide enhanced 5-fluorouracil-induced antitumor effect in colorectal cancer via inhibition of c-MET pathway.
Astragalus Huang Qi
–Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) and Rhizoma curcumae (Ezhu) decoction suppresses colorectal cancer via downregulation of Wnt5/β-Catenin signal
Basil
–Phytochemical Analysis and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity against Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells of Hippophae rhamnodies L., Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf, and Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oils.
Black Nightshade
–Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum Leaves Induces Autophagy and Enhances Cytotoxicity of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Docetaxel, and 5-Fluorouracil in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells
–New frontiers in the treatment of colorectal cancer: Autophagy and the unfolded protein response as promising targets
–[Effect of Solanum nigrum on human colon carcinoma RKO cells ].
–A 150-kDa glycoprotein isolated from Solanum nigrum L. has cytotoxic and apoptotic effects by inhibiting the effects of protein kinase C alpha, nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide in HCT-116 cells.
Boswellia
–Boswellic acid demonstrated anti-tumor effects in colorectal cancer cells. (Takahashi et al., Carcinogenesis, Dec 2012)
Cannabis
–Identification of Synergistic Interaction Between Cannabis-Derived Compounds for Cytotoxic Activity in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines and Colon Polyps That Induces Apoptosis-Related Cell Death and Distinct Gene Expression
–Preclinical and Clinical Assessment of Cannabinoids as Anti-Cancer Agents
–The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, induces cell death in colorectal carcinoma cells: a possible role for cyclooxygenase 2
–Cannabidiol Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of TRAIL by Upregulating DR5 in Colorectal Cancer
–Cannabidiol Overcomes Oxaliplatin Resistance by Enhancing NOS3- and SOD2-Induced Autophagy in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
–Members of the endocannabinoid system are distinctly regulated in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer
Costus:
–Inhibition of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway by Dehydrocostus Lactone and Costunolide in Colon Cancer Cells.
Gelsemium
–A network pharmacology-based investigation on the bioactive ingredients and molecular mechanisms of Gelsemium elegans Benth against colorectal cancer
Ginger
–Evaluation of Antineoplasic Activity of Zingiber Officinale Essential Oil in the Colorectal Region of Wistar Rats.
Ginseng, Ren Shen:
–Ginseng Enhances the Effects of 5-FU and Irinotecan in Human Colon Cancer Cells
Hedyotis::
–Hedyotis diffusa Willd and Astragalus membranaceus May Exert Anti-colon Cancer Effects by Affecting AKTI Expression, as Determined by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.
–Network pharmacology and experimental verification study on the mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in treating colorectal cancer.
–Hedyotis diffusa-Sculellaria barbata (HD-SB) suppresses the progression of colorectal cancer cells via the hsa_circ_0039933/hsa-miR-204-5p/wnt11 axis.
–Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria barbata Herb Pair for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.
–Molecular Mechanism of Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd and Its Extracts.
–A Network Pharmacology Approach to Uncover the Multiple Mechanisms of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. on Colorectal Cancer.
–Hedyotis diffusa willd extract suppresses colorectal cancer growth through multiple cellular pathways.
–Chloroform extract of Hedyotis diffusa Willd inhibits viability of human colorectal cancer cells via suppression of AKT and ERK signaling pathways.
–Hedyotis diffusa Willd suppresses metastasis in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cells by regulating the TGF-beta signaling pathway.
–Inhibitory effects of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. on colorectal cancer stem cells.
–Hedyotis diffusa Willd overcomes 5-fluorouracil resistance in human colorectal cancer HCT-8/5-FU cells by downregulating the expression of P-glycoprotein and ATP-binding casette subfamily G member 2.
–Hedyotis diffusa Willd. extract suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis via IL-6-inducible STAT3 pathway inactivation in human colorectal cancer cells.
–Hedyotis diffusa Willd inhibits colorectal cancer growth in vivo via inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway.
–Hedyotis Diffusa Willd extract induces apoptosis via activation of the mitochondrion-dependent pathway in human colon carcinoma cells.
Lemon Balm:
–Quantitative Proteome Analysis Reveals Melissa officinalis Extract Targets Mitochondrial Respiration in Colon Cancer Cells.
–Melissa officinalis Extract Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Migration in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.
–Melissa officinalis extract induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in colon cancer cells through formation of reactive oxygen species.
–Anti-proliferative effect of Melissa officinalis on human colon cancer cell line.
Licorice
–Immunomodulatory and anticancer potential of Gan cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) polysaccharides by CT-26 colon carcinoma cell growth inhibition and cytokine IL-7 upregulation in vitro.
–Effect of Root Extracts of Medicinal Herb Glycyrrhiza glabra on HSP90 Gene Expression and Apoptosis in the HT-29 Colon Cancer Cell Line.
Notoginseng, San Qi:
–Inhibition of human colorectal cancer metastasis by notoginsenoside R1, an important compound from Panax notoginseng.
–Effects of Panax notoginseng on the Metastasis of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.
Peganum
–Harmine induces cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial pathway-mediated cellular apoptosis in SW620 cells via inhibition of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways.
Phellinus
–A Review: The Bioactivities and Pharmacological Applications of Phellinus linteus
Rabdosia
–ROS/JNK/c-Jun axis is involved in oridonin-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells.
–The inhibitory effect of oridonin on colon cancer was mediated by deactivation of TGF-β1/Smads-PAI-1 signaling pathway in vitro and vivo.
–Oridonin-induced apoptosis in SW620 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells.
–Oridonin inhibits the proliferation of human colon cancer cells by upregulating BMP7 to activate p38 MAPK.
–Oridonin triggers apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma cells and suppression of microRNA-32 expression augments oridonin-mediated apoptotic effects.
–The anticancer effect of oridonin is mediated by fatty acid synthase suppression in human colorectal cancer cells.
–Downregulation of AP-1 gene expression is an initial event in the oridonin-mediated inhibition of colorectal cancer: studies in vitro and in vivo.
–Effects of oridonin on proliferation of HT29 human colon carcinoma cell lines both in vitro and in vivo in mice.
Rhubarb, Da Huang
–Antitumor effects of emodin in CACO-2 human colon carcinoma cells are mediated via apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and downregulation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.
–ACSL4 promotes colorectal cancer and is a potential therapeutic target of emodin.
–Antitumor effects of emodin in CACO-2 human colon carcinoma cells are mediated via apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and downregulation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.
Saffron
–The anticancer effect of saffron in two p53 isogenic colorectal cancer cell lines.
–Effects of long-term treatment of colon adenocarcinoma with crocin
Scutellaria barbata
–Scutellaria barbata D. Don inhibits growth and induces apoptosis by suppressing IL-6-inducible STAT3 pathway activation in human colorectal cancer cells.
Withania
–Withaferin A induces apoptosis by ROS-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in human colorectal cancer cells.
Formulas
–Clinical Effects of Xihuang Pill Combined with Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer