CANCER patients undergoing chemotherapy usually endure months of terrible side effects, but this may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Researchers in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan have been putting traditional herbs to the test using Western scientific methods, in the hope that they can offer cancer patients some effective relief from chemotherapy-induced side effects.

'A chemotherapy regimen can last a few months and many patients experience nausea, vomitting and fatigue. For some people, it can get quite bad,' says Dr Tony Mok Shu Kam, professor of clinical oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in a phone interview. Dr Mok will deliver a keynote address on Cancer and TCM at the Lancet's cancer forum tomorrow.

Chemotherapy is the general term for any treatment involving the use of chemical agents to stop cancer cells from growing. It can eliminate cancer cells at sites far from the original cancer and is, therefore, widely used in cancer treatments. Dr Mok's latest study involved breast and colon cancer patients in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial setting - with one unique feature.

'All the selected patients were seen not only by an oncologist but by a traditional herbalist, who then prescribed an individualised herbal recipe. Depending on a code known only to the pharmacist, the patient then gets either the actual remedy or a placebo,' explains Dr Mok, who trained in Alberta, Canada.

The study, which was carried out under strict trial procedures, successfully demonstrated that traditional herbal remedies can help ease the side effects of chemotherapy. The full results of the study will be presented in Singapore tomorrow at the Lancet Asia Medical Forum 2007.

This weekend's forum draws together leading cancer experts from around the world for an intensive, two-day seminar. Dr Mok's study was the latest in a wave of herbal medical research which was first sparked in China in the mid 1990s with the appearance of Kanglaite. This drug contains a herbal extract from the coix plant and is supposedly effective in fighting cancer.

To date, Kanglaite is China's top-selling cancer treatment although its use has not been approved outside the country. It's questionable status notwithstanding, Kanglaite's claim to fame as a cancer-stopper has set the research community ablaze, so much so that governments across Asia are now racing to unlock TCM's ancient secrets - and in the process, open up a brand new goldmine in pharmaceuticals.

China's Ministry of Science and Technology, for example, has made the modernisation of TCM one of 12 focal points in its Five-Year Plan, with millions set aside for the screening of conventional chemical compounds and medicinal herbs for drug leads. Over in Hong Kong, the Institute of Chinese Medicine has received millions in research funding, while in Taiwan, plans are already afoot to develop a medicinal herb industry.

The Asian public, too, has taken a hand in pushing for the development of potential cancer cures from traditional sources. 'It is quite common for people to take Chinese medicines while undergoing western medical treatments. Many patients have asked if it is safe or even beneficial to combine the two. The honest answer is we don't know, but as doctors, we are obligated to find out,' says Dr Mok, who has contributed to over 100 international publications.

He cautioned, however, that TCM alone cannot effectively treat cancer and should not be used as a primary mode of treatment. Rather, herbal remedies play an auxiliary role, by helping to relieve symptoms associated with cancer treatments.

'While it is true many herbs may have anti-cancer properties, that's not the same as saying these herbs can cure or treat cancer,' says Dr Mok. And there's no basis for substitution, too, as TCM and Western medicine work on different principles. 'People like to compare Eastern and Western medical treatments, but it's difficult to make comparisons, because TCM and Western medicine approach diseases differently. Chinese herbal medicine uses a combination of herbs to restore an individual's internal harmony and so fight illness. That is a different concept to conventional medicine, which is based on 'one drug for one disease',' explains Dr Mok.

So what's the way forward for TCM-led research? 'There is on-going research on validating traditional medicine in cancer care, but unfortunately, many of these studies are of poor quality. What we need are high-quality clinical trials on traditional medicine,' says Dr Mok, who admits that future research in this area is 'feasible but challenging'.

One problem faced is the rapid commercialisation of TCM products and the lack of government regulation. 'The market is flooded with products that claim to be able to fight all kinds of illnesses. It is tragic but many are using the name of science without any real scientific back-up and this problem is compounded by the lack of regulation,' says Dr Mok.

Time and money will have to be spent before TCM gets the green light to take on a bigger role. In the meantime, Dr Mok has this advice for patients who wish to supplement their medical treatments with herbal remedies: 'TCM involves a combination of herbs. Most herbs have no serious harm, but I won't go so far to say they are definitely beneficial. Patients should keep an open mind, and when in doubt, consult their doctors.'

Entitled Asia and Cancer Management in the 21st century, this is medical journal Lancet's first forum on Cancer Management held in Asia. The forum comprises a faculty of 43 speakers and other presenters representing 25 countries, drawing together over 400 leading cancer experts, researchers, and policymakers from around the world, in a bid to tackle the growing cancer burden in Asia