Potentially Clinically Beneficial Interactions Between Biologically-Based Complementary Medicines and Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Scoping Review.
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PurposeThis scoping review aimed to identify primary studies reporting potentially clinically beneficial interactions between biologically-based complementary medicines (BB-CMs) (e.g., herbs, vitamins, minerals, pre/probiotics etc.) and conventional cancer treatments.MethodsFollowing Joanna Briggs scoping review methodology, a comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine, and Embase databases from their inception to September 20,2024. Two reviewers independently screened the citations. Data were extracted by a single reviewer and verified by another. Results were tabulated and narrated.ResultsFifty-five studies from 14 countries, involving 4,672 adults, adolescents and children, were included in the review. Study designs varied according to the patient characteristics, treatment types, dosages and durations of use, and comprehensiveness of reporting, including adverse events and declarations. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n=29) were most common, followed by non-RCTs (n=9). Studies mostly focused on digestive tract cancers (n=16), breast cancer (n=11) and lung cancer (n=8). The most frequently investigated conventional cancer treatments were chemotherapy (n=17) and chemotherapy with adjunctive medications (n=8), while the most common BB-CMs were traditional medicine multi-ingredient formulations (n=23), vitamins (n=10), and hormone products/pre/probiotics (n=4). The most frequent beneficial interactions evaluated were survival, treatment response, and symptom relief including side effects from conventional cancer treatment, and quality-of-life.ConclusionsA broad range of studies have evaluated beneficial interactions between BB-CMs and conventional oncological treatments. Further in-depth reviews of these beneficial interactions, along with more clinical trials are indicated to support evidence-informed decision-making by healthcare providers and people living with cancer.