Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41626135›Full record

ArticleIntegrative medicine research2026

Traditional Chinese medicine for non-small cell lung carcinoma: An evidence mapping.

Zelei Dai, Xi Chen, Nian Li, Chenfeng Tan, Yonggang Zhang, Ying Wang, Renjie Zhao, Kefan Li, Mike Clarke, Lei Liu and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Integrative medicine research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Zelei DaiInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xi ChenInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Nian LiInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Chenfeng TanInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yonggang ZhangInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Ying WangInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Renjie ZhaoWest China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Kefan LiWest China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Mike ClarkeNorthern Ireland Methodology Hub, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
Lei LiuInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Lingmin ChenInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Although many systematic reviews and meta-analyses have explored Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), uncertainty remains about the pooled efficacy, safety, and methodological quality of these reviews and the interventions they assessed. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing TCM treatments for NSCLC using evidence mapping. Methods: A comprehensive search across six databases identified relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses up to August 2025. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used to assess methodological quality, and Python was used for statistical analysis and visualization. Evidence maps were created to group reviews by treatment types (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and supportive care) and by specific outcomes such as objective response rate (ORR), leukopenia, and quality of life (QoL). Results: Out of 196 systematic reviews, 42 TCM interventions and 55 outcomes were identified. Most reviews examined TCM combined with chemotherapy, particularly Aidi, Kanglaite, and Shenqi Fuzheng injections. These combinations showed potential benefits in ORR, QoL, and chemotherapy-induced leukopenia. TCM combined with targeted therapies, such as EGFR-TKIs and Astragalus, also indicated benefits in progression-free survival and immune function. However, most systematic reviews were of "critically low" quality, limiting evidence reliability. Conclusion: While TCM shows promise in enhancing conventional NSCLC treatments, high-quality, rigorously conducted randomised trials and reviews are essential to confirm these findings and guide clinical integration.

Indexed as

Adjuvant therapyEvidence mappingNon-small cell lung carcinomaSystematic reviewTraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID41626135
PMCPMC12856469

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.