Clinically beneficial interactions between biologically-based complementary medicines and cancer treatments – Protocol for a scoping review

IF 1.7 Q2 Medicine

Advances in integrative medicine Pub Date : 2025-02-24 DOI:10.1016/j.aimed.2025.02.004

Chun Wai Lui , Jennifer Hunter , Jennifer Ai Ong , Joanna E Harnett

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Conventional oncological treatments include pharmaceuticals, surgery, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation and supportive care. Additionally, traditional and complementary medicine including biologically-based complementary medicines (BB-CMs) are often used by people with a cancer diagnosis in addition to their conventional treatment with a view to reducing treatment side effects, improving cancer outcomes and/or enhancing quality of life. Oncologists often recommend against using BB-CMs due to concerns about product quality, and the risk of adverse effects, including negative interactions with conventional cancer therapies. However, a growing body of evidence suggests there is also the potential for beneficial interactions, including potentiating therapeutic effectiveness, alleviating side effects and improving treatment tolerance. This scoping review aims to systematically search the literature to identify and characterise beneficial therapeutic interactions between BB-CMs and conventional cancer treatments.

Methods

A Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology with a Population-Concept-Context framework will be employed. Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine and Embase will be searched in English. Publications in either English or Chinese language will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen the titles, abstracts, and full texts via the systematic review tool Covidence. One reviewer will extract data from the included citations and a second reviewer will verify. Data will be aggregated and presented according to the patient characteristics, types of interactions, and BB-CMs and conventional therapies used. A descriptive summary will be written to narrate the relationship between the findings with the assistance of visualization tools such as tables, diagrams or graphs.

Discussion

This scoping review will provide insights into beneficial interactions between BB-CMs and conventional cancer treatments. The findings aim to guide future research and support evidence-based decision-making by doctors, pharmacists, allied health and natural healthcare practitioners and people living with a cancer diagnosis regarding BB-CMs use.

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以生物学为基础的补充药物和癌症治疗之间的临床有益相互作用。范围审查方案

传统的肿瘤治疗包括药物、手术、放疗、骨髓移植和支持性护理。此外，传统和补充医学，包括基于生物的补充药物（BB-CMs），经常被诊断为癌症的人在常规治疗之外使用，以减少治疗副作用，改善癌症结局和/或提高生活质量。肿瘤学家通常不建议使用BB-CMs，因为担心产品质量，以及不良反应的风险，包括与传统癌症疗法的负面相互作用。然而，越来越多的证据表明，也有潜在的有益的相互作用，包括增强治疗效果，减轻副作用和提高治疗耐受性。本综述旨在系统地检索文献，以确定和表征BB-CMs与传统癌症治疗之间有益的治疗相互作用。方法采用乔安娜布里格斯研究所的人口-概念-背景框架的范围审查方法。Scopus, Medline, Web of Science， CINAHL， Allied and Complementary Medicine和Embase将以英文检索。以英文或中文出版的刊物将包括在内。两名独立审稿人将通过系统审查工具covid - ence筛选标题、摘要和全文。一名审稿人将从包含的引文中提取数据，另一名审稿人将进行验证。数据将根据患者特征、相互作用类型、BB-CMs和使用的常规疗法进行汇总和呈现。在表格、图表或图形等可视化工具的帮助下，将写一份描述性的摘要来叙述研究结果之间的关系。这一范围综述将为BB-CMs与常规癌症治疗之间的有益相互作用提供见解。研究结果旨在指导未来的研究，并支持医生、药剂师、联合健康和自然保健从业人员以及癌症诊断患者在使用BB-CMs方面的循证决策。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in integrative medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

11.80%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED) is an international peer-reviewed, evidence-based research and review journal that is multi-disciplinary within the fields of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. The journal focuses on rigorous quantitative and qualitative research including systematic reviews, clinical trials and surveys, whilst also welcoming medical hypotheses and clinically-relevant articles and case studies disclosing practical learning tools for the consulting practitioner. By promoting research and practice excellence in the field, and cross collaboration between relevant practitioner groups and associations, the journal aims to advance the practice of IM, identify areas for future research, and improve patient health outcomes. International networking is encouraged through clinical innovation, the establishment of best practice and by providing opportunities for cooperation between organisations and communities.