Evaluation of host quality of life and immune function in breast cancer patients treated with combination of adjuvant chemotherapy and oral administration of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract

Abstract

PurposeAnthracycline-based chemotherapies for breast cancer are well known to have adverse effects and can also negatively affect host immune function. There is therefore a necessity for an adjuvant that maintains the quality of life (QOL) and immune function of cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapies.Patients and methodsThe present study investigated the effectiveness of the concomitant use of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract (LEM), an oral immunomodulator, with FEC75 (5-fluorouracil + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide) therapy on host QOL and immune function in breast cancer patients with nodal metastases. Ten breast cancer patients with nodal metastases receiving surgery were enrolled in this study. Treatment with 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m2), epirubicin (75 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2) was performed every 21 days for two courses, and LEM (1800 mg/day by mouth) was administered during the second course.ResultsIn the first course, hematological toxicity was observed and host QOL and immune function were exacerbated. In the second course, however, the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes did not decrease and host QOL was maintained. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activities of natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer cells and the proportion of activated NK and NK T-cells in lymphocytes were maintained in the second course.ConclusionIt has been suggested that the concomitant use of LEM with FEC75 therapy can maintain host QOL and immune function, and offer important implications for an application of LEM as a useful oral adjuvant to anthracycline-based chemotherapies.

Shaping the Innate Immune Response by Dietary Glucans: Any Role in the Control of Cancer?

“…One of the most prominent effect described for the oral administration of β-glucans is the attenuation of chemotherapy-induced fall of leukocyte counts paralleling numerical or functional changes of some specific immune cell populations. As shown in Table 3, Lentinula edodes extracts and yeast-derived β-glucan (Imuneks) counteract the chemotherapy induced decrease in NK and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity when administered to advanced breast cancer patients [75,80]. Likewise, NK, NKT and LAK cell cytotoxic activity was reported to be higher in cancer patients administered with Agaricus blazei or Lentinula edodes extracts [73,75,76].…”

“…As shown in Table 3, Lentinula edodes extracts and yeast-derived β-glucan (Imuneks) counteract the chemotherapy induced decrease in NK and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity when administered to advanced breast cancer patients [75,80]. Likewise, NK, NKT and LAK cell cytotoxic activity was reported to be higher in cancer patients administered with Agaricus blazei or Lentinula edodes extracts [73,75,76]. Conversely, the administration of Agaricus blazei Murill extracts (AndoSan) to multiple myeloma patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy resulted in the expansion of different immune cell populations such as regulatory T (T reg ) cells and plasmacytoid DC, and in enhanced serum levels of IL-Ra, IL-5 and IL-7.…”

“…The most promising evidence to date in clinical trials has come from studies investigating the benefits of β-glucan, in combination with conventional cancer treatment, on therapy side effects, QOL and survival of cancer patients. Indeed, a significant reduction of chemotherapy-associated side effects such as loss of appetite, alopecia, emotional instability, and general weakness was reported in β-glucan supplemented patients, leading to a general improvement of QOL [73,[75][76][77][78]81]. In this regard, a recent systematic review of clinical applications of Lentinan in treating lung cancer during the past 12 years in China reported a solid effect of Lentinan on improving QOL and on promoting the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy [88].…”

Consumption of β-glucans to spice up T cell treatment of tumors: a review

“…Of the 11 studies that have been performed so far, 10 studies have properly documented the name and origin of the β-glucan; in 6 studies cancer patients received S. cerevisiae (yeast) and in 4 studies patients received L. edodes (shiitake) (included in Table 4). In general terms, the use of β-glucans demonstrated a reduction of adverse effects of chemotherapy such as oral mucositis and diarrhea and an improvement of quality of life [94][95][96][97]. These effects appeared not related to a specific type of cancer or β glucan per se as observations included patients with colorectal, gynecological or breast cancer who received chemotherapy and were administered L. edodes, S. cerevisiae or A. blazei.…”

Lentinula edodes mycelia extract plus adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients: Results of a randomized study on host quality of life and immune function improvement

“…The results of a study on breast cancer patients who were administered 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at 500 mg/m 2 , cyclophosphamide at 500 mg/m 2 and epirubicin at 75 mg/m 2 (FEC75 regimen) every 3 weeks as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were previously reported ( 23 ). In that study, oral LEM was co-administered during the second course of chemotherapy and the QOL and immune function of the second course were compared to those of the first course.…”