Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Lung Cancer Management: A Review

With the continuous advancements in modern medicine, significant progress has been made in the treatment of lung cancer. Current standard treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, have notably improved patient survival. However, the adverse effects associated with these therapies limit their use and impact the overall treatment process. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown holistic, multi-target, and multi-level therapeutic effects. Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of TCM’s role in the comprehensive management of lung cancer, demonstrating its benefits in inhibiting tumor growth, reducing complications, mitigating side effects, and enhancing the efficacy of conventional treatments. Here, we review the main mechanisms of TCM in combating lung cancer, inducing cancer cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These include inhibiting lung cancer cell growth and proliferation, inhibiting cancer cell invasion and metastasis, suppressing angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and modulating antitumor inflammatory responses and immune evasion. This paper aims to summarize recent advancements in the application of TCM for lung cancer, emphasizing its unique advantages and distinctive features. In promoting the benefits of TCM, we seek to provide valuable insights for the integrated treatment of lung cancer.