Traditional Korean medicine as second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

Abstract Rationale: As a standard chemotherapy treatment of colorectal cancer, 5-fluorouracil alone or in combination with capecitabine, irinotecan, and/or oxaliplatin has been used as the first-line treatment. However, the first-line treatment alone for colorectal cancer may not be effective for all patients. Moreover, interest among the colorectal patients towards Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) as the second-line treatment is increasing. Patient concerns: We present a 69-year-old Korean male with lung metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma who refused to receive further standard chemotherapy. After refusing further chemotherapy, the patient started TKM treatment. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed as colorectal cancer with multiple lymph nodes and lung metastases at our hospital in February 2016. Interventions: The patient was treated with Intravenous Wild Ginseng Pharmacopuncture, Hae, Soramdan, Gunchildan, SD nebulizer solution, and SSR. Outcomes: After 6 weeks of TKM treatment, there was clinical improvement, and the further spread of metastasis was reduced with diminished size of metastatic nodules throughout the treatment course and a six-month follow-up. Lessons: A definitive conclusion on the effectiveness of TKM treatment for colorectal cancer cannot be made based on the case report alone. However, TKM treatment may be considered as the second-line treatment for treating metastatic colorectal cancer in selected cases.