Figure 3. Reishi reduces tumor growth, tumor weight, and proliferative and mesenchymal marker expression.

1.5×10⁶ cells/100µL of SUM-149 cells, were injected into the mammary fat pad of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. One week following injection, mice were orally gavaged with vehicle, (n = 11) or 28 mg/kg BW Reishi (n = 11) daily for a period of 13 weeks. A. Mice weights were recorded weekly. There were no differences in body weights of mice that received Reishi compared to animals that received vehicle control. B. Tumor volume was recorded weekly using caliper measurements, and measured as described in materials and methods. C. Average tumor volume measurements per week from mice treated with vehicle or Reishi were normalized relative to the average tumor volume measurements from mice treated with vehicle or Reishi obtained at week one. Reishi significantly reduces tumor growth by 58% (P<0.02). D. Tumor weights were obtained at the end of the study. Columns show means ± SEM. Reishi significantly (*P<0.05) reduces tumor weight by 45%. E. Tumors were excised on the 13^th week post Reishi, fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin before immunostaining with antibodies against Ki-67 and vimentin. Reishi treated tumors show reduced size, lower Ki-67 and Vimentin protein expression.