Traditional Chinese Medicine Manages Lung Cancer Based on Epigenetic Regulation： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20260864
- VernacularTitle:中医药基于表观遗传调控肺癌的作用机制研究进展
- Author:
Ying WANG
1
;
Jiyu ZOU
2
;
Yongming LIU
2
;
Shiwen WANG
1
;
Tianya CAO
1
;
Xuenan MA
1
;
Ningzi ZANG
2
Author Information
1. Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Shenyang 110847， China
2. Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Shenyang 110032， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
epigenetics;
lung cancer;
traditional Chinese medicine;
DNA methylation;
histone modification;
non-coding RNA
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(22):265-276
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. The number of cases and deaths in China also remains at a high level， posing a severe threat to human health. In recent years， although early diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for lung cancer have been continuously optimized， with clinical interventions mainly consisting of surgery， radiotherapy， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy， the patient prognosis remains unsatisfactory. The core reason is that the mechanisms underlying lung cancer development and progression have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore， delving into the molecular mechanisms and key regulatory nodes is of great significance for improving diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and its active components have demonstrated unique advantages and potential in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer through epigenetic regulation. Studies have confirmed that single herbs， compound formulas， and active components of TCM can exert anti-tumor effects by modulating epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation， histone modification， and non-coding RNAs. These effects include inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing apoptosis， reducing invasive and metastatic capacity， regulating the cell cycle， and modulating the tumor microenvironment， thereby blocking the initiation and progression of lung cancer. Furthermore， TCM shows significant advantages in enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and alleviating treatment-related adverse effects. However， the current research on TCM-based epigenetic regulation of lung cancer remains at a preliminary exploratory stage. Common limitations include the complexity of targets， a predominant focus on crude herbal extracts or single epigenetic modifications， and a lack of systematic elucidation of the synergistic effects among multiple epigenetic modifications and the regulatory networks involving multicellular interactions. This article reviews the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of lung cancer and summarizes the basic and clinical research progress in TCM interventions， aiming to offer insights for further elucidating lung cancer pathogenesis and exploring TCM-based therapeutic strategies.
