A Case Report on ROS1-positive Recurrent Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Treated with Crizotinib and Korean Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the case of a patient with ROS1-positive recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer treated with crizotinib and traditional Korean medicine.Methods: The patient was treated with crizotinib from January 20 2021 to May 22 2021, together with <i>Haedogyangpye-tang</i> and <i>Haengso-tang</i>. The tumor size was measured using computed tomography (CT), and adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0.Results: After four months of combined treatment, the sizes of the lymph nodes in the porta hepatis, hepatoduodenal, retrocrural, aortocaval, and para-aortic areas had decreased, and no lymph nodes larger than 1 cm in diameter were observed. The side effects of chemotherapy also improved.Conclusions: This case study suggests that traditional Korean medicine may alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy, improve quality of life, and complement chemotherapy itself.