Atlas-Based Mapping of Traditional Chinese Medicine Effects on Tumor Microcirculation Regulation – Research

Background:

Tumor microcirculation plays a central role in the onset and progression of hypoxia, therapeutic resistance, and immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), characterized by its multi-targeted and systemic regulatory properties, has garnered increasing attention for its potential to modulate this complex milieu.

Methods:

We systematically retrieved core literature published between 2003 and 2025 and conducted a comprehensive bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis of 300 representative publications using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. This approach enabled the identification of key modulatory factors, underlying mechanisms, and evolving research trajectories related to TCM-mediated regulation of tumor microcirculation.

Results:

Our findings reveal that TCM formulations and their active constituents-such as Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction, ginsenoside Rg3, and tanshinone IIA-modulate angiogenesis and enhance immune cell infiltration through signaling pathways including VEGF, PI3K/AKT, and HIF-1α. Additionally, non-pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion have been shown to normalize vascular structure, modulate glycolytic activity, and reshape immune polarization. Emerging methodologies such as network pharmacology and molecular docking are increasingly utilized to unravel the complex mechanisms of TCM, facilitating the integration of traditional theories with modern scientific frameworks.

Conclusion:

TCM exhibits a remarkable capacity for multidimensional regulation of tumor microcirculation. Future efforts should focus on rigorous experimental validation and systems-level modeling to accelerate its clinical translation and incorporation into integrative cancer therapy.