Efficacy of Orally Administered Lentinula edodes Mycelia Extract for Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy- a Pilot Study

Authors: Kiyotaka Okuno, Kazuko Uno

Journal: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

Study Design: Pilot study with a before-and-after design.

Participants: 8 patients (1 gastric and 7 colorectal cancer) undergoing chemotherapy

Intervention:

• First course: Chemotherapy alone
• Second course: Chemotherapy plus concomitant administration of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract (LEM)

Outcome Measures:

• Adverse events
• Interferon (IFN)-γ production by CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and CD56+ NK/NKT cells

Summary: The study investigated the influence of LEM, an oral immunomodulator, on immune function and adverse events from chemotherapy in advanced cancer patients. The results showed that 6 out of 8 patients experienced grade 1 or 2 adverse events after the first course of chemotherapy alone. However, no adverse events were observed in any of the patients after the second course, which included LEM alongside chemotherapy. Additionally, there was a tendency towards improved IFN-γ production by CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and CD56+ NK/NKT cells after the second course. The study suggests that LEM may decrease the incidence of adverse effects from cancer chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer.