Traditional Chinese medicine suppressed cancer progression by targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress responses: A review

Cancer has a high morbidity and mortality; therefore, it poses a major global health concern. Imbalance in endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). ERS has been shown to play both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive roles in various cancer types by activating a series of adaptive responses to promote tumor cell survival and inducing ERS-related apoptotic pathways to promote tumor cell death, inhibit tumor growth and suppress tumor invasion. Because multiple roles of ERS in tumors continue to be reported, many studies have attempted to target ERS in cancer therapy. The therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments on tumors have been widely recognized. TCM treatments can enhance the sensitivity of tumor radiotherapy, delay tumor recurrence and improve patients’ quality of life. However, there are relatively few reports exploring the antitumor effects of TCM from the perspective of ERS. This review addresses the progress of TCM intervention in tumors via ERS with a view to providing a new direction for tumor treatment.