PACULit Daily Literature Update: Effects of BojungikkiTang on immune response and clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors a randomized pilot study Quiz

Mr. Lee is a 65-year-old male with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) currently receiving atezolizumab monotherapy. He is interested in complementary therapies and asks about adding Bojungikki-Tang (BJIKT) to his regimen. His medical history includes controlled hypertension and no known drug allergies. He is currently on lisinopril 10 mg daily and atezolizumab every 3 weeks. He has no prior experience with herbal supplements.

Question: As a pharmacist, what is the most appropriate counseling point regarding adverse events when Mr. Lee starts Bojungikki-Tang alongside atezolizumab?

Mrs. Kim is a 70-year-old female with advanced NSCLC receiving atezolizumab. She has been considering adding Bojungikki-Tang to help with fatigue and muscle weakness. Her current medications include atorvastatin and metformin. She asks about the potential benefits of Bojungikki-Tang on her cancer treatment outcomes and symptom relief.

Question: Based on current evidence, how should the pharmacist counsel Mrs. Kim regarding the expected clinical benefits of Bojungikki-Tang adjunctive therapy?

Dr. Park, an oncology pharmacist, is reviewing a patient’s regimen who is on atezolizumab for advanced NSCLC and is interested in the immunological rationale for adding Bojungikki-Tang. The patient is a 62-year-old male with no contraindications to herbal therapies. Dr. Park wants to understand how Bojungikki-Tang might influence immune cell populations to better inform the oncology team.

Question: Which immunological effect of Bojungikki-Tang observed in the pilot study supports its potential synergistic role with immune checkpoint inhibitors?