Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Therapy：“3 D” Innovative Chinese Medicine

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining increasing attention, and the modernization of TCM has become one of research hotspots both in China and abroad. However, there is a lack of precise definition of TCM modernization, which does not provide clear guidance for TCM development. Cancer is a big challenge for global public health which remains largely untreatable at present. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of TCM modernization is pivotal for TCM evolution and revolution, as well as drug discovery and cancer therapy. Purpose: This study provides an overview of the history, theory, characteristics, and evolution of TCM, uncovering the potential of TCM in cancer prevention and treatment. Aim to propose the definition of TCM modernization (innovative Chinese medicine) and elucidate the potential strategy of taking TCM back from sidekick to superstar. Study design and methods: The electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials have been utilized to retrieve relevant literatures spanning from 1979 to 2024, most of them are in recent 5 years, using keywords “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, “Cancer”, “Mechanism”, and “Clinical trial”. Results: Here, we propose the theory of TCM modernization after the target identification and initial compound screening: innovative Chinese medicine (ICM), which is defined with “3 D” elements: definite active ingredient composition and content, determined functional mechanism, and detected by evidence-based medicine. Conclusion: The “3 D” definition of ICM will suggest a standard for ICM and accelerate the TCM modernization booming, drug discovery targeting cancer and various human diseases, benefiting a wide range of patients worldwide.