Page 333 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

TC-18

Effects of Antrodia cinnamomea on the hepatoma patients after

Transcatheter hepatic artery chemoembolization

2
2,4
Cheng-Chan Yu, Yang-Chang Wu, Hen-Hong Chang* ,1,2,3

1 Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
2 Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical
University, Taichung, Taiwan
3 Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
4 Department of Surgery, Taichung Tzu-Chi Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
* E-mail: tcmchh55@gmail.com

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and the
second leading cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan, often associated with hepatitis B/C
infection and cirrhosis. Standard curative treatments include resection, transplantation, or
ablation, while transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely used for non-
curative cases but limited by post-TACE syndrome and hepatic dysfunction. Antrodia
cinnamomea (AC), a medicinal fungus with hepatoprotective and anticancer properties, is
commonly consumed by cancer patients in Taiwan. This study investigates the clinical efficacy
of AC in HCC patients after TACE, focusing on liver protection, post-TACE symptom relief,
quality of life, and hospitalization. Thirty-eight patients were randomized to receive either
antrodia cinamomea capsule or placebo. Patients took antrodia cinamomea capsule or placebo
3 days before TACE till 7 days after TACE. Laboratory data of liver function indexes including
AST, ALT, bilirubin, albumin, and coagulation profiles, and other treatment related adverse
effects such and fever, abdominal pain, hospital stays and cost were compared. Variations in
prothrombin time on the post-operative day one were significantly smaller in the treatment
group, suggesting less fluctuation in coagulation function and a protective tendency (p < 0.05).
No statistically significant differences were noted between groups with respect to the other
biomarkers such as AST, ALT, Albumin, and bilirubin levels. This study showed the significant
hepatoprotective effect of Antrodia cinnamomea on the hepatoma patients after Transcatheter
hepatic artery chemoembolization. Future Large scale randomised controlled trials are
warrantedto validate this effect.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Viral hepatitis; Antrodia cinnamomea; post-
TACE syndrome