The Use of San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang Reduces the Mortality Rate among Breast Cancer Patients

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Since San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) is a potent anti-tumor therapy and breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide, in the present retrospective cohort study, we explore the influence of SHXXT and its constituents on the mortality rate by analyzing 5387 breast cancer patients taking SHXXT and its constituents and 5387 breast cancer patients not using SHXXT and its constituents. Our study confirms SHXXT and its constituents are a useful alternative therapy to decrease the breast cancer mortality rate. In particular, the use of SHXXT is more effective than the use of only one constituent. With the increasing cumulative days of use and the annual average dose, the anti-tumor effect is more pronounced. ABSTRACT: Globally, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths. In Taiwan, it is the most prevalent cancer among females. Since San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) exerts not only an anti-inflammatory but an immunomodulatory effect, it may act as a potent anti-tumor agent. Herein, the study aimed to explore the influence of SHXXT and its constituents on the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in Taiwan regarding the component effect and the dose–relationship effect. By using the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database (NHIRD), the study analyzed 5387 breast cancer patients taking Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and 5387 breast cancer patients not using CHM. CHM means SHXXT and its constituents in the study. The Kaplan–Meier method was utilized to determine the mortality probabilities among patients. Whether the CHM influences the mortality rate among patients was estimated by Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. The use of CHM could lower the cancer mortality rate by 59% in breast cancer patients. The protective effect was parallel to the cumulative days of CHM use and the annual average CHM dose. In addition, the mortality rate was lower in patients who used SHXXT compared to those who only used one of its constituents. SHXXT and its constituents were all promising therapeutic weapons against breast cancer.