Traditional Chinese Medicine is Useful Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Severe Liver Cirrhosis: A Case Report

Shunsuke Nojiri*

Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University, Japan

^*Correspondance to: Shunsuke Nojiri 

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Abstract:

Background: There are several treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) such as surgery, internal medical treatment, and radiation therapy. Sometimes further HCC treatments are difficult to implement in those with severe liver complications such as decompensated cirrhosis. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be used to treat HCC even in cases of advanced liver damage. Case Summary: We describe here a case involving successful treatment of HCC with advanced liver cirrhosis using TCM, including representative herbal medicines well known for their anti-tumor components. A 71-year-old male visited our hospital with an HCC diagnosis, and TACE was performed several times for a few years. Finally, when the liver function reached Child-Pugh C class, we stopped performing TACE; however, the patient wanted to try another therapy. Hence, we treated him using TCM (including H. diffusa Willd 60 g and S. barbata D. DON 30 g, Prunella vulgaris L 10 g). After TCM administration, the HCC was not detected in a computed tomography scan and serum alfa fetoprotein and Des-gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin (DCP) levels decreased to almost normal levels for two years; however, the patient died from encephalopathy and pneumonia due to an influenza infection. Conclusion: In the treatment of advanced liver cancer, prognosis and treatment are greatly influenced by liver function. The usage of TCM, especially including H. diffusa Willd, S. barbata D. DON and Prunella vulgaris L is one of the methods of HCC treatment in advanced cirrhosis, when anticancer drugs in Western medicine are not available.

Keywords:

Traditional Chinese medicine; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Severe liver cirrhosis

Cite the Article:

Nojiri S. Traditional Chinese Medicine is Useful Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Severe Liver Cirrhosis: A Case Report. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2019; 4: 1696 .