Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jan 16, 2025; 13(2): 100198
Published online Jan 16, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i2.100198
Potential of non-Western medicines in chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer
Takashi Ono, Masashi Koto
Takashi Ono, Masashi Koto, Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
Author contributions: Ono T designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript, wrote, and edited the manuscript and review of literature; Koto M supervised the manuscript; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Takashi Ono, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Doctor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan. abc1123513@gmail.com
Received: August 9, 2024
Revised: September 19, 2024
Accepted: October 8, 2024
Published online: January 16, 2025
Processing time: 90 Days and 15.6 Hours
Abstract

This editorial explores the potential integration of non-Western medicine into radiotherapy for cervical cancer. While radiotherapy remains a radical treatment for cervical cancer, its associated toxicity and decline in quality of life can significantly impact patients’ lives. Currently, most treatments are supportive, with no specific treatment options available in Western medicine. Non-Western medicine, often less toxic and easier to administer, has shown promising results when used alongside radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Despite these potential benefits, challenges such as limited evidence and restricted application areas persist. While non-Western medicines may offer potential improvements in chemoradiotherapy outcomes for cervical cancer, further research is necessary to substantiate these benefits.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Radiotherapy; Non-Western medicine; Kampo; Herbal medicine

Core Tip: There is currently no specific Western medical treatment for managing the toxicity associated with radiotherapy in cervical cancer, making treatment challenging. Non-Western medicines may be less toxic and more effective than Western medicines. However, further evidence is required to substantiate these benefits.