Evaluation of Mycelium Extracts and their Immunological Effects in Cancer Therapies
Faculty Mentor
Jadwiga Najib
Major/Area of Research
Pharmacy
Description
INTRODUCTION: Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States, with one in three Americans diagnosed in their lifetimes. Patients seek to exhaust all possible avenues of treatment, generating interest in alternative therapies. Purified active components from mushrooms historically have a place in traditional Eastern and European medicine. There is potential for Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, Polysaccharide K (PSK), and lentinan as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatments based on their resulting increase in immunomodulatory markers, quality of life, and improving prognosis.
METHOD: A literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant English language articles from 2000 and beyond utilizing the PubMed database. Key search headings included mushroom immunity cancer, beta glucan immunity, turkey tail, Polysaccharide K, shiitake, lentinan, reishi, filtered by human clinical trials. Authors reviewed manuscripts for the following medicinal mushrooms: Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail), containing the active component Polysaccharide K; Lentinula edodes (Shiitake), containing flavonoid lentinan; Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), containing essential polysaccharides (Gl-PS).
RESULT: The literature review revealed that mushroom extracts may enhance outcomes for cancer patients when used as adjuncts to chemotherapy. PSK demonstrated a notable survival benefit in stages IIIA and IIIB gastric cancer patients who are programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) negative. PSK has been associated with a reduction in gastrointestinal side effects compared to chemotherapy alone, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy.
CONCLUSION: The reviewed literature highlights mycelium extracts’ promising place in therapy as potential adjunct therapies in cancer treatment. These compounds induce positive outcomes across different types of cancers. Results show promising therapeutic outcomes and suggest a variety of potential mechanistic effects on immunomodulatory markers that may broaden their applicability in oncological treatment protocols. Further rigorous research with large-scale randomized control trials is warranted to provide additional information on the true mechanisms of these products as well as its safety and efficacy.
Evaluation of Mycelium Extracts and their Immunological Effects in Cancer Therapies
INTRODUCTION: Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States, with one in three Americans diagnosed in their lifetimes. Patients seek to exhaust all possible avenues of treatment, generating interest in alternative therapies. Purified active components from mushrooms historically have a place in traditional Eastern and European medicine. There is potential for Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, Polysaccharide K (PSK), and lentinan as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatments based on their resulting increase in immunomodulatory markers, quality of life, and improving prognosis.
METHOD: A literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant English language articles from 2000 and beyond utilizing the PubMed database. Key search headings included mushroom immunity cancer, beta glucan immunity, turkey tail, Polysaccharide K, shiitake, lentinan, reishi, filtered by human clinical trials. Authors reviewed manuscripts for the following medicinal mushrooms: Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail), containing the active component Polysaccharide K; Lentinula edodes (Shiitake), containing flavonoid lentinan; Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), containing essential polysaccharides (Gl-PS).
RESULT: The literature review revealed that mushroom extracts may enhance outcomes for cancer patients when used as adjuncts to chemotherapy. PSK demonstrated a notable survival benefit in stages IIIA and IIIB gastric cancer patients who are programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) negative. PSK has been associated with a reduction in gastrointestinal side effects compared to chemotherapy alone, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy.
CONCLUSION: The reviewed literature highlights mycelium extracts’ promising place in therapy as potential adjunct therapies in cancer treatment. These compounds induce positive outcomes across different types of cancers. Results show promising therapeutic outcomes and suggest a variety of potential mechanistic effects on immunomodulatory markers that may broaden their applicability in oncological treatment protocols. Further rigorous research with large-scale randomized control trials is warranted to provide additional information on the true mechanisms of these products as well as its safety and efficacy.