Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Breast Cancer
Clinical Observational Studies: Breast Cancer Treatment by Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
This project will see if adding traditional Chinese medicine to standard Western treatments helps reduce side effects and improve quality of life for adult women with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (New Taipei City) |
| Trial ID | NCT07096180 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective cohort and real-world cross-sectional observational project compares two parallel groups of women with primary breast cancer: one receiving conventional Western oncology care and one receiving combined Western and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments. Patients choosing TCM are referred to the TCM outpatient clinic for individualized prescriptions and receive ongoing integrated follow-up alongside oncology visits, with both types of care covered by health insurance. Clinical effectiveness is monitored with routine blood tests before treatments and standardized patient-reported questionnaires (including FACT-B, EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23, WHOQOL-BREF and others) before chemotherapy and at regular study visits, with a final evaluation within four weeks after the last radiation or chemotherapy. The study also collects survival status and long-term clinical data to inform enrollment criteria and the practical use of TCM as an adjunctive therapy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adult women (age ≥18) with primary breast cancer who are receiving Western cancer treatments and are willing to receive TCM are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients who have other prior malignancies, who are not receiving any Western cancer treatment, or who experience adverse reactions to TCM are unlikely to benefit from this integrated approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the integrated approach could reduce treatment-related side effects and improve patients' quality of life during and after cancer therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of TCM as an adjunct to chemotherapy have shown mixed but sometimes promising results for symptom relief and quality-of-life improvements, although evidence is heterogeneous and limited by study design variability.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * A. Aged 18 years or above. * B. Female patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer and receiving Western medical treatment. The included breast cancer diagnosis codes based on ICD-9 are 174 to 179. Exclusion Criteria: * A. Patients with a prior diagnosis of other malignant tumors before being diagnosed with primary breast cancer. * B. Patients with primary breast cancer who have not received Western medical treatment, meaning they have not undergone surgical resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.. * C. After taking Chinese medicine, those who have uncomfortable symptoms or whose behavior affects Western medicine treatment should withdraw from the trial.
Where this trial is running
New Taipei City
- Buddhist Taipei Tzu Chi General Hospital — New Taipei City, Taiwan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hsien-Chang Wu — Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hsien-Chang Wu
- Email: xuang@tzuchi.com.tw
- Phone: 0266289779
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.