Lu Yang 1,2,3 , Rushdi Fadhil 3 , BinBin Yang 1,3 , David Good 3,4 , Wei Liu 1,3 , Guoying Ni 3,5,6,7 , Jasmine Kaur 3 , Xiao Song Liu 5,6,7 ,Tamim Mosaiab 3 , Calvin Jessop-Neggo 3 , Chengjin Hu 2 * and Ming Q Wei 3 * 1 Department of Medical Laboratory, China 2 The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, China 3 School of Medical Science & Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia 4 School of Allied Health, Australia 5 Cancer Research Institute, China 6 Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, Australia 7 Molecular diagnosis and Target Therapy Laboratory, China *Corresponding authors: Chengjin Hu, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, 250000, China Ming Q Wei, Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Medical Science, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia Submission: : February 15, 2019; Published: February 19, 2019 The Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Immunomodulation for Cancer Therapy Introduction Cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]. In 2018 alone, there have been an estimated number of 18.1 million new cases diagnosed globally, and approximately 9.6 million cancer deaths [1]. Unfortunately, this number is rising alarmingly every year, especially in some part of the developing world. Although there are various methods of cancer treatments with which some are in the front line of fighting against cancers, they have limitations which have shown ineffectiveness in curbing the progress of cancer. The most conventional and commonly used therapies are surgical, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and some targeted therapies, but each of them has its own limitations with some having side effects [2]. Therefore, it is essential to develop new agents that could induce cancer cell death without damaging healthy cells. Recently, immunotherapy has become an area of significant progress. Modulation of immune responses can restore and enhance the host’s immune system to control and clear cancers, forming immune memory to provide long-term protection. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for more than 2000 years, with immunomodulation and anti-cancer properties, and has the potential to become auxiliary drugs for cancer immunotherapy. TCM are multi-components and multitarget agents which emphasize the overall effect, enhancing the endogenous immunity of the body on cancer in a more holistic way [3]. On the one hand, TCM can boost anticancer immunity by activating, enhancing or restoring the innate and adaptive immunity and coordinating the balance between cytokines. On the other hand, TCM can also reverse the state of immunosuppression, regulate and reshape the inhibitory function of immune cells, and prevent cancer escape. This characteristics of cancerous cells, the difference between benign and malignant tumours, and the different groups of cancers based on a histological point of view. It explores various cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and Review Article Advances in Complementary & Alternative medicine C CRIMSON PUBLISHERS Wings to the Research 304 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Chengjin Hu. Volume - 4 Issue - 2 ISSN 2637-7802 Abstract Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced in China and surrounding regions for more than 2000 years. Research has shown that TCM is an effective and alternative option for anticancer therapy. A plethora of Chinese herbal recipes today serve as alternative or complementary medicines to treat cancer and/or alleviate the side effects of conventional therapies. This review focused on the immunoregulatory properties of TCM, introducing their effect on immune cells, immune molecules and immune organs along with discussions of their functions in improvement of cancer immunosuppressive state. Some important examples of these TCM as well as natural components possessing immunomodulatory and/or anticancer actions isolated from traditional Chinese medicines are also discussed. Keywords: Traditional chinese medicine (TCM); Immunomodulation; Cancer therapy Abbreviations: DCs: Dendritic Cells; APCs: Antigen Presenting Cells; NK Cells: Natural Killer Cells; MHC: Major Histocompatibility Complex; CTL: Cytotoxic T Cell; Tregs: Regulatory T Cells; TME: Cancer Microenvironment; OSCC: Oral Squamous Cells