DefinePK

Abstract

Cancer continues to be a major public health problem worldwide, with rising incidence and death rates. Although traditional treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, have effectively improved survival rates, their resulting toxicities, drug resistance, and cost underscore the importance of developing more integrative treatment modalities. Integrative oncology, the integration of evidence-based complementary care with standard medical practice, represents a potential solution to these shortcomings. Herbal medicine, based on traditional systems of medicine, has bioactive compounds including curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate, berberine, withaferin A, and sulforaphane, all of which have anticancer activity by mechanisms such as induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. Although there is emerging evidence that combining herbal compounds with conventional therapies may enhance survival rates and minimize treatment-related side effects, the scientific evidence so far is limited to a meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials. The discipline, nonetheless, is challenged by regulatory heterogeneity, inadequate large-scale clinical trials, and possible herb-drug interactions. To achieve the complete potential of integrative oncology, rigorous, large-scale clinical studies and protocols of standardization must be addressed by research in the future. A patient-focused, evidence-driven model that integrates scientifically proven herbal treatments and mainstream cancer therapies can provide a more effective and safer approach to cancer care.