Interpretation of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine

Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignant tumors and is clinically difficult to cure. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown unique advantages in the treatment of OC. However, there is currently a lack of normative guidance documents for the treatment of OC with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine. The guidelines are the first comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating OC by integrating TCM with western medicine. Adhering to evidence-based principles, the guidelines draw on the most recent advancements in OC treatment from both domestic and international researches. The guidelines formulate a variety of therapeutic methods, including oral Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and external treatments, providing a treatment strategy for the combined use of TCM and western medicine in OC. Furthermore, the guidelines establish a diagnostic and treatment pathway for the holistic management of OC with TCM throughout the disease’s progression. The guidelines were officially published in the China Association of Chinese Medicine in January 2023, which provided a scientific basis for the formulation of clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies and promoted integration with international academic standards. This paper interpreted the features of the guidelines and the 7 PICO issues (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) in the whole TCM management of OC, aiming to help TCM and western medicine practitioners better understand and apply the guidelines, and provide better medical services for patients with OC.