Efficacy of Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine for treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A retrospective case series study

Table 1 Patient demographic characteristics

		n (%)
Sex	Male	6 (25.0)
	Female	18 (75.0)
Age	Mean (range)	61.2 ± 11.5 (39-86)
Primary tumor	Breast	11 (45.8)
	Gynecological	4 (16.7)
	Hematological	3 (12.5)
	Gastrointestinal	3 (12.5)
	Others	3 (12.5)
Responsible chemotherapeutic agents (overlapping, see Table 4)	Taxanes	15 (62.5)
	Platinum analogues	7 (29.2)
	Vinca alkaloids	3 (12.5)
	Bortezomiib	3 (12.5)
Duration until starting Kampo medicine after responsible chemotherapy	During chemotherapy	6 (25.0)
	< 6 mo after	8 (33.3)
	7-12 mo after	4 (16.7)
	> 13 mo after	6 (25.0)

Table 2 Kampo formulas and response rates

Kampo formulas	Major response	Minor response	No response	Total (%)
GJG-related formulas	3	3	0	6 (25.0)
GJG alone	3 (D; 1, E; 2)	1 (D)	0	4
Combination with
+ Hangebyakujutsutemmato (E)	0	1 (E)	0	1
+ Nijutsuto (E)	0	1 (E)	0	1
HJG-related formulas	1	1	1	3 (12.5)
HJG alone	1 (E)	0	0	1
Combination with
+ KBG (E)	0	1 (E)	0	1
+ Juzentaihoto (D)	0	0	1 (E)	1
Others	1	2	1	4 (16.7)
Keishikaryojutsubuto (E)	1 (E)	0	0	1
+ Bukuryoingohangekobokuto (E)
Uzukeishito (D)	0	1 (E)	0	1
Shimbuto (E)	0	1 (E)	0	1
Juzentaihoto-ka-bushi (E)	0	0	1 (E)	1
Total (aconite root-containing formulas)	5	6	2	13 (54.2)
KBG (D) + Nichinto (D)	1 (D)	1 (D)	0	2
Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (D, E)	0	1 (D)	1 (E)	2
Keihito (D)	1 (D)	0	0	1
Boiogito (D) + Tokishakuyakusan (E)	1 (D + E)	0	0	1
Ryokyojutsukanto (E) + Unkeito (E)	0	1 (E)	0	1
Ryokyojutsukanto (E)	0	0	1 (E)	1
Total (warming formulas without aconite roots)	3	3	2	8 (33.3)
Seinetsuhokito (D)	1 (D)	0	0	1
Hochuekkito (D)	0	1 (D)	0	1
Goreisan (D)	0	1 (D)	0	1
Total (formulas without warming effects nor aconite roots)	1	2	0	3 (12.5)
Total (all formulas) (%)	9 (37.5)	11 (45.8)	4 (16.7)	24 (100.0)

D: Decoction-type; E: Extract granule-type; GJG: Goshajinkigan; HJG: Hachimijiogan; KBG: Keishibukuryogan.

Table 3 Configuration of Kampo formula and response rates

	Major response (%)	Minor response (%)	No response (%)	Total(%)
D	4 (40.0)	6 (60.0)	0	10 (100.0)
E	4 (33.3)	5 (41.7)	3 (25.0)	12 (100.0)
Combination of D and E	1 (50.0)	0	1 (50.0)	2 (100.0)

D: Decoction-type; E: Extract granule-type.

Table 4 Responsible chemotherapeutic agents and response rates to Kampo treatment

	Major response (%)	Minor response (%)	No response (%)	Total(%)
Taxanes	5 (38.5)	6 (46.1)	2 (15.4)	13 (100.0)
Platinum analogues
Oxaliplatin	0	2 (100.0)	0	2 (100.0)
Cisplatin	2 (66.7)	1 (33.3)	0	3 (100.0)
Taxanes + cisplatin	2 (100.0)	0	0	2 (100.0)
Bortezomib	0	1 (100.0)	0	1 (100.0)
Vinca alkaloids	0	0	1 (100.0)	1 (100.0)
Bortezomib + vinca alkaloids	0	1 (50.0)	1 (50.0)	2 (100.0)

Table 5 Timing of Kampo treatment after responsible chemotherapy

	Major response (%)	Minor response (%)	No response (%)	Total (%)
During chemotherapy	2 (33.3)	3 (50.0)	1 (16.7)	6 (100.0)
≤ 6 m	4 (50.0)	3 (37.5)	1 (12.5)	8 (100.0)
> 6 m, ≤ 12 m	1 (25.0)	3 (75.0)	0	4 (100.0)
> 12 m	2 (33.3)	2 (33.3)	2 (33.3)	6 (100.0)