Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38033651›Full record

ReviewIntegrative medicine research2023

Chinese herbal injections in combination with radiotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Yun-Ru Chen, Ruo-Tong Zhao, Yi-Fang Xu, Yin-Jie Ma, Shao-Bo Hu, Xue-Hui Wang, Bing-Bing Fan, Yan-Ji Zhou, Yu-Bei Huang, Nicola Robinson and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Integrative medicine research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Yun-Ru ChenCentre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Ruo-Tong ZhaoSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Yi-Fang XuDepartment of Oncology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Yin-Jie MaWangjing Hospital, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Shao-Bo HuGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Xue-Hui WangCentre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Bing-Bing FanDongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Yan-Ji ZhouHealth Management Department, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yu-Bei HuangDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy of Tianjin, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Nicola RobinsonCentre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Jian-Ping LiuCentre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Zhao-Lan LiuCentre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine · CNAerospace Center Hospital · CNDongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine · CNHubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNTianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital · CNWangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) is a fatal disease with limited treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different Chinese herbal injections (CHIs) as adjuvants for radiotherapy (RT) in APC and compare their treatment potentials using network meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched three English and four Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to July 25, 2023. The primary outcome was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes included Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). The treatment potentials of different CHIs were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). The Cochrane RoB 2 tool and CINeMA were used for quality assessment and evidence grading. Results: Eighteen RCTs involving 1199 patients were included. Five CHIs were evaluated. Compound Kushen injection (CKI) combined with RT significantly improved ORR compared to RT alone (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.21-1.86). Kanglaite (KLT) plus RT (RR 1.58, 95 % CrI 1.20-2.16) and CKI plus RT (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.16-1.95) were associated with improved KPS score compared to radiation monotherapy, with KLT+RT being the highest rank (SUCRA 72.28 %). Regarding AEs, CKI plus RT was the most favorable in reducing the incidence of leukopenia (SUCRA 90.37 %) and nausea/vomiting (SUCRA 85.79 %). Conclusions: CKI may be the optimal choice of CHIs to combine with RT for APC as it may improve clinical response, quality of life, and reduce AEs. High-quality trials are necessary to establish a robust body of evidence. Protocol registration: PROSPERO, CRD42023396828.

Indexed as

Bayesian network meta-analysisCompound Kushen injectionIntegrative therapyPancreatic cancerRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID38033651
PMCPMC10681939
OpenAlexW4388189941

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.