Research progress on the prevention and treatment of drug-induced myocardial injury related to anti-tumor therapy with Chinese traditional medicine

With the widespread application of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, cardiotoxicity associated with anti-tumor treatment has gained increasing attention. Drug-induced cardiac injury can significantly impact patients’ quality of life and may even limit the overall efficacy of anti-tumor therapy. The underlying mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and immune dysregulation. Owing to multitarget effects, low toxicity, and holistic regulatory properties, Chinese traditional medicines have demonstrated considerable potential in cardioprotection. This review summarizes the principal mechanisms of drug-induced myocardial injury related to anti-tumor therapy and highlights recent advances in the prevention and treatment of cardiotoxicity using Chinese medical formulae, such as compound danshen dripping pills, nuanxinkang, qili qiangxin capsules, and shengmai powder, as well as their bioactive constituents. The cardioprotective effects of these agents are discussed in terms of their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and mitochondrial-protective actions. Furthermore, it highlights certain traditional medicines that exhibit unique advantages in synergistic cardioprotective and anti-tumor therapy. Future efforts should focus on well-designed, systematic clinical studies to facilitate the translational application of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in cardio-oncology.