1.Current Status and Optimization Strategies for Investigator Initiated Trial on Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Malignant Tumors Conducted by Western Medicine Institutions
Xuechen GENG ; Yanmei LIU ; Qianqian BU ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Dong ZHANG ; Yuquan TAO ; Liu LI ; Ling LI ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):878-882
Investigator initiated trial (IIT) represents a primary format for clinical research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). As key implementation sites for TCM-based IIT targeting malignant tumors, western medicine institutions often face unique challenges in conducting such studies, which limit their feasibility and standardization. This paper reviews the registration status of TCM-based IIT for malignancies conducted in western medical institutions and analyzes key difficulties, including complex project initiation and management processes, limited TCM knowledge and skills among western medicine physicians, and relatively low patient acceptance of TCM. From a practical perspective, the study proposes several optimization strategies. These include improving the review and management mechanisms of TCM-related IIT within western medical institutions, establishing multidisciplinary clinical research teams that integrate TCM and western medicine, and enhancing investigators' training in TCM theory and clinical skills. Additionally, the study suggests standardizing IIT operational procedures, objectifying the collection of TCM diagnostic information, refining subject recruitment methods, and increasing TCM involvement in patient follow-up and management. These investigator-oriented, TCM-featured, and operable strategies aim to promote the high-quality development of TCM-based IIT in western medicine institutions and enhance the clinical application of TCM.
2.Discussion on the Core Pathogenesis and Prevention and Treatment Strategy for Postoperative Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer from the Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Cancer Toxin Theory
Xuechen GENG ; Liu LI ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Qianqian BU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(15):1538-1542
According to the theory of cancer toxin pathogenesis, tumors are complex syndromes centered on cancer toxin, characterized by multiple time points and locations, interwoven pathogenic toxins, and a combination of deficiency and excess. Postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer is a dynamic spatiotemporal process. In this paper, the core pathogenesis of postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer, namely "deficiency of spleen qi, with damp-heat stasis toxin", has been discussed based on spatiotemporal evolution of cancer toxin. It is suggested that spleen qi depletion leading to the proliferation of cancer toxin represents the temporal characteristic of postoperative recurrence, while the stasis of damp-heat facilitating the aggregation and spread of cancer toxin refelct its spatial pattern. This paper has constructed a holistic spatiotemporal prevention and treatment strategy according to different stages before and after recurrence. Before recurrence, the focus is on prevention, and it is suggested to rectify the healthy qi and fortify spleen, clear heat and resolve dampness, unblock collaterals and remove toxin. After recurrence, the focus should be on treatment, and the strategy is combating cancer and removing toxin, breaking the blood to eliminate disease, regulating and tonifying the zang-fu (脏腑) organs.
3.Plasma Metabolomic Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Spleen-Qi Deficiency and Damp-heat Stasis-toxin Syndrome Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS
Siting MENG ; Lihuiping TAO ; Dong ZHANG ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Yiping FAN ; Haibo CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):130-137
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the plasma metabolite differences among colorectal cancer patients with spleen-qi deficiency, damp-heat stasis-toxin syndrome(SRYD), non-spleen-qi deficiency, damp-heat stasis-toxin syndrome(non-SRYD), and normal human beings(Normal), aiming to identify unique metabolites specific to SRYD colorectal cancer patients and their potential biomarkers. MethodsBased on the diagnostic criteria of SRYD and non-SRYD colorectal cancer, 30 patients were included, including 10 patients with SRYD colorectal cancer and 20 patients with non-SRYD colorectal cancer, while 10 individuals were recruited for the Normal group. Metabolome sequencing of plasma from the three groups was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis were performed by principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and the intergroup differential metabolites were identified based on variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1 and t-test P<0.05. And pathway enrichment analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) was performed to explore the metabolites and metabolic pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer patients. ResultsMetabolome sequencing results showed some differences in metabolic profiles between the groups. A total of 111 plasma differential metabolites were found in the SRYD group and the Normal group, of which 31 were up-regulated and 80 were down-regulated, mainly including stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, indole-3-acrylic acid, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(P<0.05). The non-SRYD group exhibited 97 differentially expressed metabolites compared to the Normal group, with 36 up-regulated and 61 down-regulated, mainly including stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingosine, and palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine(P<0.05). And the SRYD group exhibited 19 differentially expressed metabolites compared to the non-SRYD group, of which 5 were up-regulated and 14 were down-regulated, mainly including dihydrosphingosine, palmitic acid, and linoleoylethanolamide(P<0.05). The significant differential metabolites were subjected to KEGG analysis to obtain significantly enriched metabolic pathways in each group, and the results showed that 11 metabolic pathways such as primary bile acid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism and bile secretion were differential signaling pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer. Further retrieval of the above key signaling pathways showed that bile acids were up-regulated in both bile secretion and primary bile acid synthesis pathways, and there was a trend of up-regulation of glycochenodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, and chenodeoxycholic acid. ConclusionPrimary bile acid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism, and bile secretion-related pathways may be differential signaling pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer, and bile acid is a core molecule in the metabolic pathway, which can serve as potential biomarkers closely related to the development and progression of SRYD colorectal cancer.
4.Plasma Metabolomic Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Spleen-Qi Deficiency and Damp-heat Stasis-toxin Syndrome Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS
Siting MENG ; Lihuiping TAO ; Dong ZHANG ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Yiping FAN ; Haibo CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):130-137
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the plasma metabolite differences among colorectal cancer patients with spleen-qi deficiency, damp-heat stasis-toxin syndrome(SRYD), non-spleen-qi deficiency, damp-heat stasis-toxin syndrome(non-SRYD), and normal human beings(Normal), aiming to identify unique metabolites specific to SRYD colorectal cancer patients and their potential biomarkers. MethodsBased on the diagnostic criteria of SRYD and non-SRYD colorectal cancer, 30 patients were included, including 10 patients with SRYD colorectal cancer and 20 patients with non-SRYD colorectal cancer, while 10 individuals were recruited for the Normal group. Metabolome sequencing of plasma from the three groups was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis were performed by principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and the intergroup differential metabolites were identified based on variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1 and t-test P<0.05. And pathway enrichment analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) was performed to explore the metabolites and metabolic pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer patients. ResultsMetabolome sequencing results showed some differences in metabolic profiles between the groups. A total of 111 plasma differential metabolites were found in the SRYD group and the Normal group, of which 31 were up-regulated and 80 were down-regulated, mainly including stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, indole-3-acrylic acid, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(P<0.05). The non-SRYD group exhibited 97 differentially expressed metabolites compared to the Normal group, with 36 up-regulated and 61 down-regulated, mainly including stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingosine, and palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine(P<0.05). And the SRYD group exhibited 19 differentially expressed metabolites compared to the non-SRYD group, of which 5 were up-regulated and 14 were down-regulated, mainly including dihydrosphingosine, palmitic acid, and linoleoylethanolamide(P<0.05). The significant differential metabolites were subjected to KEGG analysis to obtain significantly enriched metabolic pathways in each group, and the results showed that 11 metabolic pathways such as primary bile acid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism and bile secretion were differential signaling pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer. Further retrieval of the above key signaling pathways showed that bile acids were up-regulated in both bile secretion and primary bile acid synthesis pathways, and there was a trend of up-regulation of glycochenodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, and chenodeoxycholic acid. ConclusionPrimary bile acid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism, and bile secretion-related pathways may be differential signaling pathways specific to SRYD colorectal cancer, and bile acid is a core molecule in the metabolic pathway, which can serve as potential biomarkers closely related to the development and progression of SRYD colorectal cancer.
5.Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction retards colorectal tumorigenesis by regulating the TMEM131-TNF signaling pathway-mediated differentiation of immunosuppressive dendritic cells.
Yuquan TAO ; Yinuo MA ; Limei GU ; Ye ZHANG ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Lisha ZHOU ; Jie PAN ; Meng SHEN ; Xuefei ZHUANG ; Linmei PAN ; Weixing SHEN ; Chengtao YU ; Dan DONG ; Dong ZHANG ; Tingsheng LING ; Yang SUN ; Haibo CHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3545-3560
Colorectal tumorigenesis generally progresses from adenoma to adenocarcinoma, accompanied by dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A randomized controlled trial has confirmed the efficacy and safety of Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction (SBJDD) in preventing colorectal tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the dynamic evolution of the TME and validated cell infiltration with multiplex immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Bulk RNA sequencing was utilized to assess the underlying mechanisms. Our results constructed the mutually verifiable single-cell transcriptomic atlases in Apc Min/+ mice and clinical patients. There was a marked accumulation of CCL22+ dendritic cells (DCs) and an enhanced immunosuppressive action, which SBJDD and berberine reversed. Combined treatment with cholesterol and lipopolysaccharide induced characteristic gene expression of CCL22+ DCs, which may represent "exhausted DCs". Intraperitoneal injection of these DCs after SBJDD treatment eliminated its therapeutic effects. TMEM131 derived CCL22+ DCs generation by TNF signaling pathway and may be a potential target of berberine in retarding colorectal tumorigenesis. These findings emphasize the role of exhausted DCs and the regulatory mechanisms of SBJDD and berberine in colorectal cancer (CRC), suggesting that the multi-component properties of SBJDD may help restore TME homeostasis and offer novel cancer therapy.
6.Review of Modern TCM Oncology Academic Thought
Yu TAO ; Liu LI ; Lihuiping TAO ; Qinchang ZHANG ; Haibo CHENG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2023;50(10):929-934
With the establishment of modern traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an oncology discipline, it has made great development and progress in the prevention and treatment of tumors. As a result, a number of academic thoughts and viewpoints have emerged. In the tumor field of TCM, the current representative theories include the theory of strengthening the body and treating cancer, the theory of treating from the membrane, the theory of surviving with tumor, the pathogenesis theory of cancer virus, the theory of consolidating the root and clearing the source, and the theory of regulating qi and detoxing. In TCM oncology, a large number of results have been achieved in the research of the thoughts of famous TCM doctors. However, discussions on these thoughts together are relatively few. This article summarizes and studies the above innovative theories from the aspects of academic connotation and clinical application to provide new ideas for further guiding the clinical practice of TCM oncology.
7.Optimization of extraction technology of the polysaccharides from sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida Suringar by orthogonal design
Liang ZHU ; Qing ZHANG ; Qinchang ZHU ; Yifei WANG ; Yinzhou CEN
Chinese Journal of Marine Drugs 2000;0(06):-
Objective To study the extraction technology of the polysaccharides from Sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida Suringar and find out the optimum extraction condition.Methods The extraction technology was studied by the orthogonal design.Results The optimum extraction conditions were to add 50 times of water to the Undaria pinnatifida Suringar material at 90℃ for 4 hours.Conclusion This optimum extraction technology based on the orthogonal design was confirmed by the experiment and was available in the future research.

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