A new study by scientists at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, has revealed how the fungus shrinks tumors and slows their growth.
Despite the white mushroom Although it was promoted as a nutraceutical – a term used to describe foods, or parts, with medicinal properties – its mechanism of action was not known. Until now.
Agaricus bisporus It is the most cultivated edible mushroom in the world. In a previous study, scientists conducted a phase I clinical trial, and in 13 of 36 participants with prostate cancer, the treatment decreased prostate levels. prostate specific antigen (PSA) without affecting testosterone levels in the blood.
PSA is a protein produced by cancerous and non-cancerous prostate cells and is measured to screen for the disease. Although the investigation produced encouraging results, experts wanted to go deeper.
Therefore, in this phase II trial, investigated immune responses to the consumption of white mushroom in preclinical trials in mouse models of prostate cancer and in human patients.
According to , the investigation focused specifically on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)which accumulate in the tumor microenvironment and inhibit other immune cells from fighting the disease while promoting tumor growth.
On test subjects, the scientists tested FDA-approved white mushroom extract, administered orally, as prophylactic e therapeutic.
As a prophylactic, the extract was administered seven days before the mice were injected with tumor cells. The drug significantly delayed growth prostate tumor and extended animal survival.
When administered as a therapeutic, a single daily dose of the extract shrank the tumors, keeping them smaller in size compared to the control group.
Regarding the effect of the extract on the animals’ immune cells, a decrease in the number and function of MDSCs was observed, associated with greater numbers of T cells and a more effective T cell-mediated immune response.
In patients with prostate cancer, after three months of treatment, scientists observed the same reduction, a phenomenon that helped destroy cancer cells.
The was published in Clinical and Translational Medicine.
