Zhao XF, Zhang YJ, Wang SL, Lian FM, Liu Z. Adjuvant role of traditional Chinese medicine in postoperative gastric cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(3): 116534 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i3.116534]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Zhen Liu, MD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange (North Line Pavilion), Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. doctorliuzhen@126.com
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 24, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 26, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Clinical Oncology
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2218-4333
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Zhao XF, Zhang YJ, Wang SL, Lian FM, Liu Z. Adjuvant role of traditional Chinese medicine in postoperative gastric cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(3): 116534 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i3.116534]
World J Clin Oncol. Mar 24, 2026; 17(3): 116534 Published online Mar 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i3.116534
Adjuvant role of traditional Chinese medicine in postoperative gastric cancer
Xue-Fei Zhao, Yan-Jiao Zhang, Shao-Li Wang, Feng-Mei Lian, Zhen Liu
Xue-Fei Zhao, Yan-Jiao Zhang, Shao-Li Wang, Zhen Liu, Department of Gastroenterology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
Feng-Mei Lian, Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
Co-first authors: Xue-Fei Zhao and Yan-Jiao Zhang.
Co-corresponding authors: Feng-Mei Lian and Zhen Liu.
Author contributions: Zhao XF and Zhang YJ searched the relevant literature and drafted this manuscript and figures, they contributed equally to this article, they are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Wang SL, Lian FM, and Liu Z contributed to the revision and improvement of the manuscript; Lian FM and Liu Z provided the idea of the manuscript, they contributed equally to this article, they are the co-corresponding authors of this manuscript; and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by the High Level Chinese Medical Hospital Promotion Project - Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Evidence-Based Research Special Project, No. HLCMHPP2023085.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Zhen Liu, MD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. 5 Beixiange (North Line Pavilion), Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. doctorliuzhen@126.com
Received: November 14, 2025 Revised: December 2, 2025 Accepted: January 13, 2026 Published online: March 24, 2026 Processing time: 130 Days and 1.6 Hours
Abstract
Gastric cancer remains a global health challenge with high mortality. While surgery is the primary treatment, postoperative complications and recurrence significantly impact survival. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is increasingly utilized as an adjuvant therapy, yet its evidence base requires critical appraisal. Clinical trials suggest that adjuvant TCM formulations, such as Jianpi Yangzheng, may improve postoperative quality of life, alleviate chemotherapy-induced side effects (e.g., nausea, fatigue), and potentially extend disease-free survival in specific cohorts. Mechanistically, bioactive compounds (e.g., ginsenosides, astragaloside IV) appear to modulate immune responses and induce apoptosis via pathways including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin, though much evidence remains preclinical. TCM shows potential as an integrative approach for postoperative gastric cancer management. However, current evidence is limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneity in study designs. Future research must focus on rigorous, large-scale randomized controlled trials, standardized quality control of herbal formulations, and the evaluation of herb-drug interactions to establish its role in modern oncology.
Core Tip: This article comprehensively summarizes the multifaceted role of traditional Chinese medicine in postoperative gastric cancer care. We detail how traditional Chinese medicine strategies, ranging from herbal formulas to strengthen body resistance, eliminate toxins, and prevent metastasis, to acupuncture for improving gastrointestinal function, contribute to enhanced recovery, reduced recurrence, and improved quality of life. The paper also explores the bioactive compounds of herbs and their molecular mechanisms, alongside ongoing clinical trials, advocating for an evidence-based integrative approach to improve patient outcomes.
