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Arginine and cancer. Lind DS. J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10 Suppl):2837S-2841S; discussion 2853S. Review. PMID: 15465796

Evaluation of active hexose correlated compound hepatic metabolism and potential for drug interactions with chemotherapy agents. Mach CM, Fugii H, Wakame K, Smith J. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 Summer;6(3):105-9. PMID: 19087767

A proprietary extract prepared from co-cultured mycelia of several species of Basidiomycete mushrooms, including shiitake (Lentinus edodes), active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) is extracted from mushrooms using hot water following an enzyme pretreatment, but specific mushroom source and preparation details have not been fully disclosed. Patients use this to prevent and treat cancer. Animal studies suggest that AHCC has antioxidant effects and may protect against disorders induced by oxidative stress (1) and may also enhance resistance against bacterial (2) (7)and viral infections (3). In healthy humans, AHCC increased dendritic cell number and function (4) In vitro and animal studies show that AHCC exhibits some anticancer activities, but the results of these studies are vague

Attached please find the final draft of Dr. Kenyon's non-controlled observational study on the use of Coriolus versicolor (non-extracted) in 30 solid tumour cancer patients. The final report will be published in the February edition of Mycology News 7. The patients were Stage III and Stage IV patients in which chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not considered successful. Below please find a synopsis of patient type.

"For years, it's been the perfect excuse for secret admirers to steal a kiss with the object of their desire. But research suggests mistletoe could do much more than just ignite Christmas passions. Scientists have found an extract of the plant could help to fight bowel cancer, which affects 37,500 a year in the UK. Patients who had the mistletoe treatment regularly injected into their blood had fewer side-effects from toxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy and survived longer than those who did not. The extract is thought to help the body's immune system fight tumours and speed up the disposal of toxic 'debris' left by chemotherapy. Researchers led by Professor Kurt Zanker from the German Institute of Immunology and Experimental Oncology, concluded: 'The results suggest convincing evidence that there is a significant benefit from treatment with mistletoe extract.' The scientists treated 429 cancer patients with the mistletoe jab and compared them with 375 receiving conventional care. The results, published in the journal of The Society For Integrative Oncology, showed only 19 per cent of those in the mistletoe group suffered side-effects from toxic treatments, compared to 48 per cent in the other group. They were also 32 per cent more likely to still be alive five years after starting therapy."

Can sniffer dog detection take the place of traditional prostate cancer screening like immunized human antibody library ? It is still too early to draw a conclusion at present. Nobody knows how this sniffer dog detection technology can be applied to clinical use, or whether it can be widely promoted.

White button mushroom enhances maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and their antigen presenting function in mice.\nRen Z, Guo Z, Meydani SN, Wu D.\nJ Nutr. 2008 Mar;138(3):544-50.\nPMID: 18287364

Dietary supplementation with white button mushroom enhances natural killer cell activity in C57BL/6 mice. Wu D, Pae M, Ren Z, Guo Z, Smith D, Meydani SN. J Nutr. 2007 Jun;137(6):1472-7. PMID: 17513409

"Língzhī (traditional Chinese: 靈芝; simplified Chinese: 灵芝; Japanese: reishi; Korean: yeongji, hangul: 영지) is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and its close relative Ganoderma tsugae. Ganoderma lucidum enjoys special veneration in Asia, where it has been used as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest mushrooms known to have been used in medicine. Lingzhi may possess anti-tumor, immunomodulatory and immunotherapeutic activities, supported by studies on polysaccharides, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds isolated from fruiting bodies and mycelia of this fungus (reviewed by R. R. Paterson[4] and Lindequist et al.[7]). It has also been found to inhibit platelet aggregation, and to lower blood pressure (via inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme[8]), cholesterol and blood sugar.[9] Laboratory studies have shown anti-neoplastic effects of fungal extracts or isolated compounds against some types of cancer. In an animal model, Ganoderma has been reported to prevent cancer metastasis,[10] with potency comparable to Lentinan from Shiitake mushrooms.[11] The mechanisms by which G. lucidum may affect cancer are unknown and they may target different stages of cancer development: inhibition of angiogenesis (formation of new, tumor-induced blood vessels, created to supply nutrients to the tumor) mediated by cytokines, cytoxicity, inhibiting migration of the cancer cells and metastasis, and inducing and enhancing apoptosis of tumor cells

Mushrooms have traditionally been valued in Asia for their nutritional and medicinal qualities. The Coriolus versicolor or "Turkey Tail" mushroom has been investigated in numerous laboratory, animal and human clinical studies. Most of these studies have demonstrated that it does appear to have significant antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor properties when used as a supplement to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Human trials have included randomization, a process that decreases bias, but only one has used blinding, which would make them even more protected against biases.

Coriolus versicolor extracts: relevance in cancer management M. Szeto, BSC RD Curr Oncol. 2008 April; 15(2): 79.

Astragalus root is used in traditional medicine for its immunestimulating properties. Chinese studies suggest that astragalus, when used with angelica, has renal protective effects (6). In addition, astragalus decreases the proteinuria associated with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (7) as well as possesses natriuretic action (8). Astragalus may also suppress airway hyperreactivity associated with allergic asthma in vivo (9). An herbal formula using astragalus as a major ingredient has been shown to reduce fatigue in athletes (10). Furthermore, astragalus increases M-cholinergic receptor density in senile rats (11), which suggests that it may have a role in combating senility.