3.3.5 Traditional Chinese Medicine Inhibits Precancerous Lesions, Metastasis, and Invasion of Liver Cancer

3.3.5 Traditional Chinese Medicine Inhibits Precancerous Lesions, Metastasis, and Invasion of Liver Cancer

Traditional Chinese medicine has a unique preventive effect on liver cancer—it can inhibit precancerous lesions, metastasis, and recurrence, thereby delaying carcinogenesis and effectively protecting the body. Wang Xuejiang and Zhang Xuewu's research indicates that herbal compound formulas can regulate GST-P gene expression, enhance GSH-Px and SOD activity, scavenge free radicals, resist oxidation, and thus block the development of precancerous lesions and their progression. Additionally, Jing Ming's Zhenqi Fuzheng tablets and Li Min's Compound Kushen Injection can both inhibit precancerous lesions, delay the onset and progression of cancer, and repair liver damage caused by carcinogenic factors.

When malignant tumor cells detach from the primary site and travel via lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, or body cavities to grow in tissues far from the original site, this is called tumor metastasis. If tumor cells bypass surrounding blood vessels and lymphatics, penetrate the basement membrane, and break away from the primary lesion to grow elsewhere, this is referred to as tumor invasion. This process involves complex molecular mechanisms, with proteases, adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors, and other components all playing a role. The most prominent feature of malignant tumors is metastasis, which is also the main cause of death. Recent studies have found that traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit these processes—for example, Wang Zhixue's Xiaoliu Pingyi mixture has been shown to inhibit lymphatic and pulmonary metastasis in H22 tumor-bearing mice after liver cancer surgery; Zhou Yanfeng confirmed that Fuzheng Xiaoliu mixture also inhibits pulmonary metastasis in H22 tumor-bearing mice; Li Yinglu's research shows that Eleutherococcus can inhibit the growth and metastasis of liver cancer; and Diao Fengsheng's Danggui Buxue Tang is highly effective in reducing the rate and extent of lymph node metastasis in Hca-F25/16A3 liver cancer mice.