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Human natural killer cell subsets and acute exercise: a brief review. Timmons BW, Cieslak T. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2008;14:8-23. Review. PMID: 19203081

Effect of moderate exercise training on T-helper cell subpopulations in elderly people. Shimizu K, Kimura F, Akimoto T, Akama T, Tanabe K, Nishijima T, Kuno S, Kono I. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2008;14:24-37. PMID: 19203082

beta-glucan A polysaccharide isolated from the cell walls of bacteria, plants, and fungi with immunostimulant and antineoplastic activities. In a solubilized form, beta-glucan binds to a lectin site within complement receptor 3 (CR3) on leukocytes, priming the receptor to trigger cytotoxic degranulation of leukocytes when leukocyte CR3 binds to complement 3 (iC3b)-coated tumors. Thus, the attachment of beta-glucan to CR3 of circulating leukocytes simulates leukocytes to kill iC3b-coated tumor cells in the same way as they kill iC3b-coated yeast. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

β-Glucans (or beta-glucans) are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers linked by glycosidic bonds. They occur most commonly as cellulose in plants and trees, the bran of cereal grains, the cell wall of baker's yeast, certain types of fungi, and many kinds of mushrooms and bacteria. Some forms of beta glucans are useful in human nutrition as texturing agents and as soluble fiber supplements, but problematic in brewing as excessive levels make the wort too viscous. Yeast derived beta glucans are notable for their immunomodulatory function

The application of probiotics in cancer. de Moreno de LeBlanc A, Matar C, Perdigón G. Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S105-10. Review. PMID: 17922945 doi:10.1017/S0007114507839602

Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom of the Basidiomycetes class. It was used initially in Traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic, but recent studies suggest that it has immunostimulant and anti-tumor properties. Polysaccharide-K (PSK), a proprietary product derived from Coriolus, was developed for cancer treatment in Japan. When used as an adjuvant, PSK appears to improve survival rates in patients with gastric (1) (2) and colorectal (3) (4) (5) cancers. Other Coriolus extracts, such as polysaccharide-peptide (PSP) and VPS, are available as dietary supplements. When used in conjunction with chemotherapy, PSP may benefit patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (7). Other clinical studies using Coriolus extract alone or in combination with other botanicals also suggest positive immunomodulatory effects (8) (9). However, studies on breast cancer (10), hepatocellular carcinoma (11), and leukemia (12) produced mixed results. A hot water extract of Coriolus, VPS, was found to enhance development of large intestinal tumors in mice (21). Coriolus extracts are generally well tolerated but minor adverse effects have been reported. Many over-the-counter Coriolus products are not standardized, making it difficult to compare potency between brands. It is also unclear if PSK, PSP and other Coriolus extracts have comparable effects.

Derived from the bulb or clove of the plant. Garlic is used as a spice and to treat hyperlipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, and infections. Processing can have a substantial effect on the chemical content in garlic; the volatile oil components are sensitive to heat and certain enzymes are acid-labile. Several oral garlic formulations are available, and clinical studies have addressed a variety of the proposed claims. Placebo-controlled trials on the cholesterol lowering effect of garlic yielded mixed results (16) (17) (18) (21) (22) (26). Studies evaluating the antithrombotic effects repeatedly have shown modest reduction in platelet aggregation, but varying levels of fibrinolytic activity. Research shows mixed effects with regard to reductions in blood glucose, blood pressure, or risk of cardiovascular disease (23). Frequently reported adverse events include bad breath, headache, fatigue, GI upset, diarrhea, sweating, and possible hypoglycemia (9). Because garlic is known to decrease platelet aggregation and potentially elevate the INR, it should not be used with anticoagulants or in patients with platelet dysfunction (15). Garlic appears to induce cytochrome p450 3A4 and may enhance metabolism of many medications (e.g. cyclosporin and saquinavir) (12). An analysis of several case-control studies in Europe suggests an inverse association between garlic consumption and risk of common cancers (25).

What if we didn't try to cure cancer, but simply kept tumors from growing too big? That's what radiologist Robert Gatenby of the Moffitt Cancer Center proposes this week in the journal Nature. Gatenby argues that high doses of powerful chemotherapies wreak havoc on a patient's immune system and foster the rapid regrowth of chemoresistant cancers that doctors have no hope of fighting.  So instead of curing cancer, he suggests doctors aim to stabilize the tumor at a tolerable size. In practice, this would mean that doctors identify a target size for an individual tumor that gives the patient the best quality of life.  Then, they will regularly monitor the tumor's growth with medical imaging equipment like a PET/CT scanner (see photo), and regulate doses of anticancer drugs to maintain it at a precise volume.

Antitumor activity of human papillomavirus type 16 E7-specific T cells against virally infected squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Albers A, Abe K, Hunt J, Wang J, Lopez-Albaitero A, Schaefer C, Gooding W, Whiteside TL, Ferrone S, DeLeo A, Ferris RL. Cancer Res. 2005 Dec 1;65(23):11146-55. PMID: 16322265

Derived from the cap and stem of the mushroom. The active constituent is thought to be a beta-glucan polysaccharide. The whole mushroom is used primarily as a dietary element, but extracts and supplements are sold as immune stimulants for patients with HIV or cancer. While no adverse effects have been reported, some studies reveal a hypoglycemic effect following administration of maitake extract (9) (12). Maitake was shown to enhance bone marrow colony formation, reduce doxorubicin toxicity in vitro (11), and to inhibit tumor metastasis

Shiitake mushroom, native to East Asia, is cultivated worldwide for its purported health benefits. The fresh and dried forms of the mushroom are commonly used in East Asian cooking. It is also valued as an anticancer agent. Lentinan (1,3 Beta-D-glucan), a polysaccharide isolated from Shiitake, has been well studied and is thought responsible for its beneficial effects. It was shown to have anticancer effects in colon cancer cells (1), which may be due to its ability to suppress cytochrome P450 1A enzymes that are known to metabolize pro-carcinogens to active forms

In 1994, I was introduced to PSK, and all-natural, high-quality extract product from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor. A neighbor introduced me to a local mycologist who enthusiastically told me about this remarkable product being used in Japan for the treatment of cancer.

In vitro and in vivo immunomodulating and immunorestorative effects of Astragalus membranaceus. Cho WC, Leung KN. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Aug 15;113(1):132-41. Epub 2007 May 31. PMID: 17611061 doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.020    

Safety Study of Seneca Valley Virus in Patients With Solid Tumors With Neuroendocrine Features This study is currently recruiting participants. Verified by Neotropix, September 2008 This is the first study in man of Seneca Valley Virus, a virus which seeks and kills certain tumors in non-human model systems. Subjects in this trial will be patients with advanced cancer displaying certain specified neuroendocrine features, pathologically; they will have exhausted standard methods of treatment for their tumor. The primary purpose of the trial is to determine if the virus may be administered safely. Additional purposes are to learn about the distribution of the virus in the body, the elimination of the virus from the body, the immune response to the virus and whether the virus might have some beneficial effects upon the tumors which the patients have. The first patients will be treated with low amounts of virus and subsequent patients may receive higher amounts. At the end of the trial, it is intended to select a dose for further study.

If you're from Japan, you're probably wondering why I've listed PSK under alternative therapies. In Japan, PSK is an approved anti-cancer drug with 20 years of research behind it. PSK sales in Japan account for hundreds of millions dollars worth of sales each year. But in the US, PSK is little known, is not used by mainstream doctors, and until recently nothing like it was readily available. Now a nutritional supplement designed to be identical to PSK is available in the US, but very few mainstream doctors, and actually not many alternative practitioners are aware of it. So in the US, PSK has the status of a little known nutritional supplement or alternative therapy. Which is too bad in light of its proven benefits, easy administration, and lack of toxicity. Before I start sounding too much more like an advertisement, let me confess. I really am excited about it, but I have no financial interest in it; I'm not selling it.

[Clinical study on effect of Astragalus in efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing of chemotherapy in patients of malignant tumor] Duan P, Wang ZM. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Jul;22(7):515-7. Chinese. PMID: 12592686

Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus reverses predominance of Th2 cytokines and their up-stream transcript factors in lung cancer patients. Wei H, Sun R, Xiao W, Feng J, Zhen C, Xu X, Tian Z. Oncol Rep. 2003 Sep-Oct;10(5):1507-12. PMID: 12883732

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects of Astragalus membranaceus. Cho WC, Leung KN. Cancer Lett. 2007 Jul 8;252(1):43-54. Epub 2007 Jan 16. PMID: 17223259 doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2006.12.001

Selenium and immunocompetence in patients with head and neck cancer. Kiremidjian-Schumacher L, Roy M, Glickman R, Schneider K, Rothstein S, Cooper J, Hochster H, Kim M, Newman R. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2000 Feb;73(2):97-111. PMID: 11049203 DOI: 10.1385/BTER:73:2:97