Correlation between the Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes and Molecular Types of Breast Cancer in Perichemotherapy Period

Abstract Objectives  The objective of this study was to explore the correlation between the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and molecular types of breast cancer in the perichemotherapy period. Methods  A total of 325 cases with perichemotherapy breast cancer was classified according to syndrome differentiation in TCM , and R × C table χ 2 test was used to examine and analyze the relationship between TCM syndromes and molecular types of breast cancer in the perichemotherapy period. Results  (1) In the early stage of chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in the distribution of different TCM syndromes among molecular types, mainly liver depression syndrome and liver depression and phlegm coagulation syndrome ( p  > 0.05). (2) In the middle stage of chemotherapy, there were significant differences in the distribution of spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome among HER-2 positive (HR positive), HER-2 positive (HR negative), and Luminal A type, Luminal B type (HER-2 negative), and triple-negative type ( p  < 0.01). (3) After chemotherapy, there were significant differences in the distribution of spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome and marrow sea insufficiency syndrome among HER-2 positive (HR negative), triple-negative type, and HER-2 positive (HR positive), Luminal A type, Luminal B type (HER-2 negative), and triple-negative type ( p  < 0.01). Conclusion  (1) In the middle stage of chemotherapy, HER-2 positive (HR positive) and HER-2 positive (HR negative) are more likely to show spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome than other molecular types. (2) In the late stage of chemotherapy, the HER-2 positive (HR negative) and triple-negative type is more likely to show spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome than other molecular types, and the triple-negative type is more likely to show marrow sea insufficiency syndrome than other molecular types.