Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40859966›Full record

ReviewDrug design, development and therapy2025

Synergistic Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Proteasome Inhibitors in Multiple Myeloma Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.

Youya Dai, Yongming Zhou, Hailin Chen

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drug design, development and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

3 authors.

Youya DaiDepartment of Hematology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.
Yongming ZhouDepartment of Hematology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.
Hailin ChenDepartment of Hematology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell malignancy characterized by bone marrow infiltration, monoclonal immunoglobulin production, and multisystem damage. Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) such as bortezomib, carfilzomib, and ixazomib have significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in MM patients. However, drug resistance and adverse effects-including peripheral neuropathy and cardiotoxicity-remain major limitations to long-term disease control. Objective: This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the synergistic mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in combination with PIs for the treatment of MM, from molecular insights to translational outcomes. Methods and Scope: We synthesized findings from preclinical studies, pharmacological investigations, and cohort analyses that examine the interplay between TCM bioactives and PI-based regimens. Focus is given to the modulation of MM-related signaling pathways (eg, NF-κB, STAT3, PI3K/Akt), apoptotic cascades, proteasomal degradation processes, and the bone marrow microenvironment. Results: Evidence suggests that specific TCM compounds-such as curcumin, baicalein, icariin, and berberine-can potentiate PI-induced cytotoxicity, reverse resistance mechanisms, reduce inflammatory damage, and protect against PI-associated toxicities. Several Chinese herbal formulations, including Fuzheng Peiyuan and Huanglian Jiedu decoctions, have demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-myeloma effects in vivo and in human cohorts. These synergistic actions may enhance the efficacy and tolerability of PIs in MM therapy. Conclusion: Integrating TCM with proteasome inhibitors represents a promising strategy to optimize MM treatment by simultaneously targeting malignant cells and the tumor microenvironment. Further mechanistic research and well-designed clinical trials are warranted to validate and standardize this combinational approach for broader clinical adoption.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsDrugs, Chinese HerbalMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMultiple MyelomaProteasome InhibitorsAnimalsDrug SynergismHumansAntineoplastic AgentsDrugs, Chinese HerbalProteasome Inhibitorsapoptosisbone marrow microenvironmentbortezomib resistancedrug synergyMultiple myelomaNF-κBproteasome inhibitorstraditional Chinese medicine treatment

Identifiers

PMID40859966
PMCPMC12372823

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.