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PSK - Mushrooms

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8/12/02 Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy Anticancer Res 2002 May-Jun;22(3):1737-54 PMID: 12168863 Good introductory article.
8/22/02 Medicinal Mushrooms and Cancer
8/22/02 British experts urge study of exotic mushrooms for cancer treatment Reuters
8/22/02 Mushroom Magic Fights Cancer
3/24/02 The Use of Mushroom Glucans and Proteoglycans in Cancer Treatment by Parris M. Kidd, PhD
1/19/02 Cancerguide - PSK
6/5/02 Experimental and Unconventional search on PSK
1/20/02 PSK - BB Post
1/19/02 PSK - Coriolus versicolor and Cancer Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients August/September 1997
1/19/02 Review of PSK (MD Anderson)
1/19/02 Review of PSK II MD Anderson
1/19/02 Detailed Scientific Review PSK - MD Anderson
1/19/02 Mushroom Therapies BC Cancer Agency

Sources
8/18/02 JHS Natural Products - Coriolus Versicolor PSK Japanese Formula
1/19/02 PSK Source PSP Extracts, Inc.
8/18/02 Super Turkey Tail - Grifon Mushroom Wisdom

PSK Abstracts
8/18/02 PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide, overcomes defective maturation of dendritic cells exposed to tumor-derived factors in vitro. Int J Oncol 2002 Jun;20(6):1189-95 PMID: 12011998 Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that induce specific anti-tumor immunity. To obtain potent efficacy of immunotherapy using infusion of activated DC, it is necessary to overcome defective function of DC in tumor-bearing patients. We examined whether the treatment with PSK, a biological response modifier derived from Basidiomycetes, could allow DC to avoid inhibition of functional maturation by tumor-derived factors in vitro. CONCLUSION: PSK overcomes defective maturation of DC exposed to tumor-derived factors in vitro, and suggest the efficacy of PSK in DC-based immunotherapy in cancer patients
8/18/02 Effectiveness of immunochemotherapy with PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide, in colorectal cancer and changes of tumor marker Oncol Rep 2002 May-Jun;9(3):635-8 PMID: 11956642 In the present study, curatively resected patients of colorectal cancer at pTNM stages II and III were selected. Patients receiving postoperative combined PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide, and fluoropyrimidine therapy (PSK + chemotherapy group) were compared with patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy alone (chemotherapy group) during the same period of study. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed a significant improvement of the three-year disease-free survival rate in the PSK + chemotherapy group compared to the chemotherapy group, suggesting that PSK is useful as postoperative prognosis control including relapse prevention for colorectal cancers at pTNM stage II and III.
1/19/02 Evaluation of polysaccharopeptide effects against C6 glioma in combination with radiation. The administration of radiation alone resulted in the slowest tumor progression, whereas PSP alone had no effect. Furthermore, PSP in combination with radiation treatment did not increase radiation efficacy. Natural killer cell, lymphocyte and granulocyte counts in blood and spleen were significantly higher in PSP-treated animals, demonstrating that PSP has protective effects on immunological function. Collectively, these results warrant further investigation to determine if PSP can be effectively utilized to upregulate immune responsiveness in case of neoplasia and other diseases in which immunosuppression is a prominent feature. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
1/19/02 Immunotherapy with low-dose interleukin-2 and a polysaccharopeptide derived from Coriolus versicolor. These results indicate that IL-2 and PSP can slow progression of H238 tumors and that the mechanisms of action may be related to their direct cytotoxic effects, as well to their immunomodulatory properties
1/19/02 Immunomodulation and anti-cancer activity of polysaccharide-protein complexes. A polysaccharide peptide (PSP), isolated from a strain of Coriolus versicolor in China, has also been widely used as an anti-cancer and immunomodulatory agent. Although the mechansim of their antitumor action is still not completely clear, these polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes are suggested to enhance cell-mediated immune responses in vivo and in vitro and act as biological response modifiers. Potentiation of the host defense system may result in the activation of many kinds of immune cells that are vitally important for the maintenance of homeostasis. Polysaccharides or polysaccharide-protein complexes are considered as multi-cytokine inducers that are able to induce gene expression of vaious immunomodulatory cytokines and cytokine receptors. Some interesting studies focus on investigation of the relationship between their structure and antitumor activity, elucidation of their antitumor mechanism at the molecular level, and improvement of their various biological activities by chemical modifications.
1/19/02 In vitro chemopreventive effects of plant polysaccharides (Aloe barbadensis miller, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum and Coriolus versicolor). . These results suggest that some plant polysaccharides produced both anti-genotoxic and anti-tumor promoting activities in in vitro models and, therefore, might be considered as potential agents for cancer chemoprevention
1/19/02 Significance of postoperative adjuvant immunochemotherapy after curative resection of colorectal cancers: Association between host or tumor factors and survival.
1/19/02 Protein-bound polysaccharide PSK inhibits tumor invasiveness by down-regulation of TGF-beta1 and MMPs Western blot analysis showed that PSK reduced uPA protein expression but not PAI-1 expression in the both cell lines. These results indicate that PSK suppresses tumor cell invasiveness through down-regulation of several invasion-related factors including TGF-beta1, uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9.
1/19/02 Plant polysaccharide PSK: cytostatic effects on growth and invasion; modulating effect on the expression of HLA and adhesion molecules on human gastric and colonic tumor cell surface. These results suggested that enhancement of HLA class-I expression on tumor cells after PSK treatment may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the induction of anti-tumor immunity by PSK
1/19/02 Neonatal inoculation with the protein-bound polysaccharide PSK increases resistance of adult animals to challenge with syngeneic tumor cells and reduces azoxymethane-induced precancerous lesions in the colon. Injection of PSK increased the number of tumor-rejecting mice from 10 to 50% compared with the control mice transplanted with 5 x 10(3) tumor cells and prolonged the median survival period to 174% of control mice with tumors. When the number of transplanted tumor cells was increased to 1 x 10(6), PSK injection significantly prolonged the survival period, although tumors grew in all mice. The survival period was also significantly prolonged in male C57BL/6 mice that received an injection neonatally with PSK and were given a s.c. transplant of Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 melanoma at 8 weeks of age. The effect on survival was dependent on the PSK dose and the number of transplanted tumor cells.
1/19/02 Long-term survival after immunochemotherapy for juvenile colon cancer with peritoneal dissemination: a case report. A 20 year-old man was hospitalized with an abdominal mass and abdominal distension. Investigations resulted in a diagnosis of ileus caused by advanced colon cancer with peritoneal dissemination to the pouch of Douglas. Palliative surgery was performed to relieve bowel obstruction and debulk the tumor. Histopathological examination showed that the tumor was a mucinous adenocarcinoma invading the serosa without lymph node metastasis. Ascites collected during the operation was diagnosed as class V. Administration of PSK (3.0 g/day) and UFT (600 mg/day) as adjuvant immunochemotherapy was started postoperatively to achieve tumor dormancy. He has been followed as an outpatient for 2.5 years with no ascites or abdominal symptoms.
6/5/02 A suppression efficacy against the hematogenous metastases of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with protein bound polysaccharide K (PSK). -ASCO 2002 Abstract- (NOTE: PSK is an AVAILIABLE Mushroom Extract) At four weeks after surgery, Group P began to receive alternately oral PSK (3g/day) for four weeks and oral 5-FU (200mg/body/day) for four weeks as one course: Ten courses were given. Group C received 5-FU alone for four weeks in an alternate rest interval for the same period. The seven-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 80.5% and 85.4% in Group P, and 60.5% and 65.1% in Group C, respectively. There were significant differences between these two groups on both DSF and OS. Then, we also evaluated the efficacy on a suppression of metastases by PSK. Subgroup analysis of logarithmic hazard rates revealed that PSK was markedly proved to be more effective on hematogenous metastases rather than on other metastases.
8/18/02 A review of research on the protein-bound polysaccharide (polysaccharopeptide, PSP) from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor (Basidiomycetes: Polyporaceae). Gen Pharmacol 1998 Jan;30(1):1-4 PMID: 9457474 PSP is classified as a biological response modifier. It induces, in experimental animals, increased gamma-interferon production, interleukin-2 production, and T-cell proliferation. It also counteracts the depressive effect of cyclophosphamide on white blood cell count, interleukin-2 production and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Its antiproliferative activity against tumor cell lines and in vivo antitumor activity have been demonstrated. A small peptide with a molecular weight of 16-18 kDa originating from PSP has been produced with antiproliferative and antitumor activities

Maitake Mushrooms
1/30/02 Healthwell - Maitake Grifola frondosa Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): Historically, maitake has been used as a tonic and adaptogen. Along with other "medicinal" mushrooms, such as shiitake and reishi, maitake was used as a food to help promote wellness and vitality. Traditionally, consumption of the mushroom was thought to prevent high blood pressure and cancer-two applications that have been the focal point of modern research. Active constituents: A common denominator among mushroom and herbal adaptogens is the presence of complex polysaccharides in their structure. These active components have the ability to act as immuno-modulators and, as such, are researched for their potential role in cancer and AIDS treatment. The polysaccharides present in maitake have a unique structure and are among the most powerful studied to date.2 The primary polysaccharide, beta-D-glucan, is well absorbed when taken orally and is currently under review for the prevention and treatment of cancer and as a supportive tool for HIV infection.3 4 Animal studies suggest maitake may lower fat levels in the blood and lower blood pressure.5 6 This research is still preliminary and requires confirmation.
8/18/02 Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? Altern Med Rev 2002 Jun;7(3):236-9 PMID: 12126464 Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) MD-fraction containing beta-1,6 glucan with beta-1,3 branched chains has previously exhibited strong anticancer activity by increasing immune-competent cell activity.1,2 In this non-random case series, a combination of MD-fraction and whole maitake powder was investigated to determine its effectiveness for 22- to 57-year-old cancer patients in stages II-IV. Cancer regression or significant symptom improvement was observed in 58.3 percent of liver cancer patients, 68.8 percent of breast cancer patients, and 62.5 percent of lung cancer patients. The trial found a less than 10-20 percent improvement for leukemia, stomach cancer, and brain cancer patients. Furthermore, when maitake was taken in addition to chemotherapy, immune-competent cell activities were enhanced 1.2-1.4 times, compared with chemotherapy alone. Animal studies have supported the use of maitake MD-fraction for cancer.
8/18/02 Maitake extracts and their therapeutic potential. Altern Med Rev 2001 Feb;6(1):48-60 PMID: 11207456 Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is the Japanese name for an edible fungus with a large fruiting body characterized by overlapping caps. It is a premier culinary as well as medicinal mushroom. Maitake is increasingly being recognized as a potent source of polysaccharide compounds with dramatic health-promoting potential. The most recent development is the MD-fraction, a proprietary maitake extract its Japanese inventors consider to be a notable advance upon the preceding D-fraction. The D-fraction, the MD-fraction, and other extracts, often in combination with whole maitake powder, have shown particular promise as immunomodulating agents, and as an adjunct to cancer and HIV therapy. They may also provide some benefit in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hepatitis.

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