Xiaoaiping Injection Plus Chemotherapy Improves Response and Cuts Adverse Effects in Breast CancerHerbal Injection Plus Chemo May Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE Published October 3, 2026 Study authors: Yue Zhao, Bo Wu, Yue-Kun Wang, Xiao-Chen Cao, Shi-Jia Du, Hong Peng, Yang Yang PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

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Key Takeaway

Consider Xiaoaiping plus chemotherapy may improve response and reduce some adverse effects, but evidence is limited.

This meta-analysis examined the efficacy and safety of Xiaoaiping Injection combined with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with breast cancer. The review focused on objective response rate, incidence of chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Sample size, setting, and follow-up duration were not reported.

For efficacy, the authors report significantly improved outcomes with the combination (P < 0.05), though no effect size was provided. The objective response rate was higher with Xiaoaiping Injection plus chemotherapy (RR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.21, 1.55; Z = 5.11; P < 0.00001). The incidence of chemotherapy-induced adverse effects was reduced (RR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.54, 0.82; Z = 3.79; P = 0.0002), and gastrointestinal adverse reactions were also reduced.

Safety reporting was limited: serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported. The authors state that further studies are needed to provide more robust supporting evidence. Funding and conflicts of interest were not reported.

In practice, these findings suggest that adding Xiaoaiping Injection to chemotherapy may improve response rates and reduce certain adverse effects in breast cancer, but the limited reporting of safety outcomes and the need for more robust evidence warrant cautious interpretation.

How this fits prior evidence

This meta-analysis addresses a gap in prior coverage, which has focused on exercise, radiotherapy, surgical de-escalation, AI, and mortality trends in breast cancer. It extends the evidence base by evaluating a combined chemotherapy and traditional medicine approach, reporting improved objective response and reduced chemotherapy-induced adverse effects. However, the findings contrast with the cautious conclusions of prior items, such as the lack of consistent cardioprotective effects from exercise, by suggesting a potential benefit for a complementary injection. The authors' call for further studies aligns with the need for more robust evidence noted across these areas.

A new analysis pooled results from studies of women with breast cancer. It looked at adding a Chinese herbal medicine called Xiaoaiping Injection to standard chemotherapy, compared with chemotherapy alone.

The analysis found that combining the injection with chemotherapy was linked to better treatment response. The objective response rate, which measures how well tumors responded, was higher in the combination group. The risk of chemotherapy-related side effects was also lower, and gastrointestinal problems like nausea and stomach upset were reduced.

The analysis did not report how many patients were included, how long they were followed, or whether serious side effects occurred. The authors themselves note that more research is needed to provide stronger evidence. This means the findings are promising but not yet definitive.

For patients, this is early evidence. It does not prove that Xiaoaiping Injection should be added to standard care. Anyone considering complementary treatments during chemotherapy should talk with their cancer care team first, because interactions and individual situations matter.

What this means for you:

Early evidence links a herbal injection plus chemo to better response and fewer gut side effects, but more research is needed.

Common questions

What is Xiaoaiping Injection?

Xiaoaiping Injection is a Chinese herbal medicine given as an injection. In this analysis, it was added to chemotherapy for breast cancer. The analysis looked at whether combining it with chemo improved outcomes compared with chemo alone. It is not a standard treatment in most countries, and more research is needed before it could be widely recommended.

How much did the treatment response improve?

The objective response rate, which measures how well tumors shrank or responded, was higher in the combination group. The risk ratio was 1.37, meaning patients were about 37 percent more likely to have a response. This was statistically significant, but the analysis did not report absolute numbers, so the exact benefit for an individual is uncertain.

Should I ask my doctor about adding Xiaoaiping Injection to my chemotherapy?

This is early evidence, and the analysis itself says more research is needed. It is always best to discuss any complementary or herbal treatment with your cancer care team before starting it. They can help you weigh potential benefits and risks based on your specific situation and treatment plan.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedOct 2026

PMID42825487

View Original Abstract ↓

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of Xiaoaiping Injection (XAP) combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in patients with breast cancer and aimed to provide an evidence-based reference for clinical treatment. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and the China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched from inception to April 30, 2025, for studies on breast cancer. Pairwise meta-analyses were performed using Stata 17.0 and RevMan 5.4.1. A total of eight studies were included. Pooled analysis indicated that, compared with chemotherapy alone, Xiaoaiping Injection combined with chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients with breast cancer (P < 0.05), reduced the incidence of chemotherapy-induced adverse effects [RR = 0.67, 95% CI (0.54, 0.82), Z = 3.79, P = 0.0002], and increased the objective response rate [RR = 1.37, 95% CI (1.21, 1.55), Z = 5.11, P < 0.00001]. Thus, Xiaoaiping Injection combined with chemotherapy was more effective than chemotherapy alone for breast cancer, reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions and improving the objective response rate. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to provide more robust supporting evidence.

Xiaoaiping Injection Plus Chemotherapy Improves Response and Cuts Adverse Effects in Breast CancerHerbal Injection Plus Chemo May Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes

How this fits prior evidence

Common questions

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