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. 2022 Jun 25;27(13):4090. doi: 10.3390/molecules27134090

Mushroom Polysaccharide-Assisted Anticarcinogenic Mycotherapy: Reviewing Its Clinical Trials

Iyyakkannu Sivanesan 1, Manikandan Muthu 2, Judy Gopal 2, Jae-Wook Oh 3,*
Editor: Kyoko Nakagawa-Goto
PMCID: PMC9267963  PMID: 35807336

Abstract

Of the biologically active components, polysaccharides play a crucial role of high medical and pharmaceutical significance. Mushrooms have existed for a long time, dating back to the time of the Ancient Egypt and continue to be well explored globally and experimented with in research as well as in national and international cuisines. Mushroom polysaccharides have slowly become valuable sources of nutraceuticals which have been able to treat various diseases and disorders in humans. The application of mushroom polysaccharides for anticancer mycotherapy is what is being reviewed herein. The widespread health benefits of mushroom polysaccharides have been highlighted and the significant inputs of mushroom-based polysaccharides in anticancer clinical trials have been presented. The challenges and limitation of mushroom polysaccharides into this application and the gaps in the current application areas that could be the future direction have been discussed.

Keywords: mushroom polysaccharides, anticancer, treatment, clinical trials, glucans, lentinans

1. Introduction

Polysaccharides include structurally diverse macromolecules that occur most prevalently in nature. They are made up of repetitive structural features linked by glycosidic linkages. Polysaccharides can hold ample biological information owing to their high potential for structural variability [1]. In recent decades, the bioactivities of polysaccharides have gained a lot of attention. Polysaccharides are the most recognized and powerful mushroom-derived substance with a range of biologically important characteristics. Mushroom polysaccharides contribute much to the food and medicine industries and towards health applications, predominantly in China and Japan [1]. β-glucan is the most versatile mushroom polysaccharide because of its high biological potential. β-glucans consists of a glucose residue backbone associated with β-(1–3) glycosidic bonds, often connected by β-(1–6) linkages with side-chain glucose residues. Few are linked by β-(1–3), (1–6) glycosidic bonds and α-(1–3) glycosidic bonds, while most others are true heteroglycans [2,3,4,5,6,7].

The most promising biopharmacological activities of mushroom polysaccharides are their immunomodulation and anticancer effects. The bioactive substances found in mushrooms are secondary metabolites such as acids, terpenoids, polyphenols, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, lactones, sterols, metal chelating agents, nucleotide analogs and vitamins, glycoproteins and polysaccharides. In China, edible wild mushrooms, are appreciated as food and play pivotal roles in traditional Chinese medicine. The high protein, carbohydrate, essential mineral and low energy levels give mushrooms a nutritional value comparable with meat, eggs and milk. Figure 1 gives a snapshot of all edible mushrooms commercially predominating Asian freshmarkets.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Snapshot of commercially available mushrooms in a traditional Asian market.

Polysaccharides are structurally diverse class of versatile macromolecules [8]. Mushroom polysaccharides have been successfully applied in anticancer experiments. The extraction of mushroom polysaccharides starts with treating dried powdered mushroom with 80% ethanol to remove the low molecular weight substances. Crude fractions are further extracted with water, 1% ammonium oxalate and 5% sodium hydroxide. The extracted polysaccharides can be fractionally purified by the ethanol concentration, fractional precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and affinity chromatography—all of which can be used individually or in combination. Yap and Ng [9] isolated β-glucan through ethanol precipitation, followed by freeze-drying in liquid nitrogen.

As it stands, mushrooms are documented as the main underutilized resource of nutritious foods, even though there is huge interest in the related area of cost-effective biotechnology. However there are approximately 1600 f mushroom species, and only 100 have been declared edible. Of the 33 edible species of mushrooms, only three species are commonly propagated worldwide, i.e., paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea L.), white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus L.) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus L.) [10].

When it comes to the bioactivity of mushrooms, there is voluminous documentation, with which we present the most significant anticarcinogenic mushrooms, as presented in Table 1. Such reports highlight the importance of the use of several mushrooms in anticancer applications.

Table 1.

Consolidated list of anticarcinogenic mushrooms.

Mushroom Bioactive Component for Anticancer Activity Anticancer Application Reference
Albatrellus confluens Grifolin and Neogrifolin Against osteosarcoma U2OS, MG63 cell line lines [11]
Auricularia auricula Polysaccharide Against liver cancer [12]
Grifola frondosa Polysaccharide Against liver and breast cancer [13]
Lentinus crinitus Panepoxydone (PP) Against breast cancer [14]
Lentinula edodes Protein latcripin-1,3,13,15 Against lung cancer [15]
Lentinus edodes Polysaccharide Against hepatocarcinoma of mouse [16,17,18,19]
Pleurotus ferulae Terpenoids Against melanoma/gastric cancer [20]
Pleurotus ostreatus Polysaccharide Against sarcoma cells [21]
Termitomyces clypeatus Sugar entities Against brain, breast, acute myeloid leukemia, lung, ovary, retinoblastoma [22]
Amauroderma rude Ergosterol Against breast cancer [23]
Antrodia camphorata Polysaccharide (ACE) Against hepatocellular carcinoma [24]
Antrodia camphorata Antroquinonol Against pancreatic carcinoma colon cancer [25]
Antrodia camphorata 4-Acetylantroquinonol B Against colorectal cancer [26]
Cordyceps militaris Cordycepin Against NRK-52E [27]
Fomes fomentarius Polysaccharide (MFKF-AP1β) Against lung cancer [28]
Grifola frondosa Sulfated polysaccharides Against liver cancer [29],
G lucidum Polysaccharide Against liver cancer [12]
Inonotus obliquus Ergosterol peroxide Against colorectal cancer [30]
Phellinus linteus Protein-bound polysaccharide Against colon cancer [31]
Phellinus linteus Hispolon Against human hepatoma [32]
Phellinus linteus Polysaccharide Against liver cancer [33]
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The objective of the current review was to exclusively touch on the medicinal properties of mushroom polysaccharides and to review the advances made using mushroom polysaccharides in cancer therapy. This review elaborately discusses the clinical trials that have been documented using mushroom polysaccharides and the progress made through them. The challenges facing the further extrapolation of mushroom polysaccharides into cancer mycotherapy and the prospects into the future of mushroom polysaccharides are also discussed.

2. Medicinal Attributes of Mushroom Polysaccharides

The incorporation of mushrooms into our diet by Greeks and Romans has a long history dating back to the days of yore. Mushrooms were designated as the food of Gods by Romans and as an elixir of life by the Chinese. Many cultures have utilized them for centuries and now they are known for their ability to safeguard general health, as well as prevent and treat diseases owing to their immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. In the last decade, interest in the pharmaceutical potential of mushrooms has increased and there is widespread awareness among the educated public. Now, mushrooms are considered as mini-pharmaceutical factories that yield products with miraculous biological properties [34].

More than 100 medicinal attributes have been correlated with mushrooms, that can be broadly listed as having antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiallergic, immunomodulating, cardiovascular protector, anticholesterolemic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, detoxification and hepatoprotective effects; additionally, they also protect against tumor development and inflammatory processes [3,4,5,6]. Numerous molecules synthesized by mushrooms are known to be bioactive. These bioactive compounds include polysaccharides, proteins, fats, tocopherols, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, minerals, glycosides, alkaloids, volatile oils, terpenoids, folates, lectins, enzymes, ascorbic and organic acids.

In the context of oxidative stress, mushrooms have a reputation for their use in oriental medicine against numerous diseases. Currently, mushroom extracts are commercialized as dietary supplements for enhancing their immune function and antitumor activity [35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43]. Commercialized mushroom extract powers and capsules are on the market. A vast number of reviews have dealt with the medicinal aspects of mushrooms and their various bioactive components [44]. Figure 2 gives the molecular structures of the predominant mushroom polysaccharides applied in anticarcinogenic mycotherapy.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Chemical structures of anticarcinogenic mushroom polysaccharides.

3. A Snapshot of the Application of Mushroom Polysaccharide-Based Cancer Mycotherapy

Polysaccharides that exhibit antitumor activity show significant variation in their chemical structure. Anticancer activity has been demonstrated by glycan types that include homopolymers as well as extremely complicated heteropolymers [45]. Anticarcinogenic and immunostimulating mushroom-based polysaccharides from the genera Basidiomycetes have been explored, and the primary structure of mushroom polysaccharides relies on features such as the sequence and their monosaccharide composition, position, configuration as well as the number of non-carbohydrate moieties.

Developing specific remedies against cancer is a challenging task resembling that of developing vaccines against viral infections and antibiotics. Cancerous cells originate from normal cells, and thus the world is seeking a drug that will specifically target and destroy the cancer cells without affecting the normal cells, which would be the ideal result during cancer therapy. This is a huge challenge for cancer researchers. Immunotherapy has been involved in targeting and removing cancer cells, immunopotentiators, immunoinitiators and biological response modulators (BRMs) that act against carcinogenesis and induce carcinostasis are sought after [46] and immunoceuticals [47]. Immunoceuticals manifest immunotherapeutic efficacy when administered orally, and mushroom polysaccharides fall under the category of immunoceuticals. More than 50 mushrooms species have yielded potential immunoceuticals that exhibit anticancer activity in vitro and in animal models. Mushrooms belong to this group of immunoceuticals based on their mode of action. The use of medicinal mushrooms to fight cancer has been well adopted in Korea, China, Japan, Russia, USA, and Canada. There is even an old Japanese legend that wild monkeys rarely experienced cancer, high blood pressure or diabetes, because they consumed wild mushrooms. Mushrooms of the family Polyporaceae are effective against esophageal, stomach, prostate and lung cancers. In 1957, Byerrum [48], for the first time confirmed the bioactivity of Basidiomycetes mushrooms and then isolated a Boletus edulis substance which could inhibit tumor cells from sarcoma S-180 [2]. Yohida et al. [49] isolated an active agent from Lampteromyces japonicus which worked against mouse Ehrlich carcinoma. Gregory (1966) experimented with more than 7000 cultures of mushrooms for antitumor activity against rodent tumors. Multiple inhibitory effects have been reported against sarcoma 180, mammary adenocarcinoma 755 and leukemia L-1210. Ikegawa et al. [50] reported antitumor activity against grafted sarcoma 180 in animals. Daba (1998) and Daba et al. [51] reported that Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms grown on date wastes exhibited antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The antitumor activity was proved to be owing to a β-D-glucan mushroom polysaccharide (Mizuno, 1999).

In the late 1970s and 1980s, three anticancer polysaccharides, i.e., lentinan, schizophyllan and protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK, Krestin), were isolated from Lentinus edodes, Schizophyllum commune and Coriolus versicolor, respectively, and expanded in Japan [52]. Lentinan and schizophyllan are pure β-glucans [53,54,55], whereas PSK are protein-bound β-glucans [56,57]. A polysaccharopeptide (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor in China was also reported to be an anticancer and immunomodulatory agent [58].

Six mushroom polysaccharides have been investigated for their anticarcinogenic effect against human cancers, namely Lentinan, Schizophyllan, Maitake D-fraction, Active hexose correlated compounds (AHCC), polysaccharide-K and Polysaccharide-P. Lentinan is the polysaccharide that is most promising in this regard. It is produced from Lentinus edodes, commonly known as shiitake mushroom [59]. Lentinan is an isolated component of Lentinus edodes (shiitake). Countless studies on the anticancer effect of lentinan in animal and human carcinomas have been conducted. It was first isolated and studied by Chihara et al. [53], who validated that its anticarcinogenic effects were significantly greater than those of other mushroom polysaccharides. Maeda et al. [60], however, narrowed down the activity of lentinan for only specific types of tumors. Now, Lentinan is clinically used in the treatment of cancer in both China and Japan. As a drug, lentinan can be orally and intravenously administered. Generally, 1–2 mg lentinan is recommended for intravenous infusion. It is commonly used in bowel, liver, stomach, ovary, and lung cancer therapy in combination with other traditional pharmaceutical drugs. It is reported to increase the efficacy of treatment and therefore the survival of patients [61]. Natural compounds are able to successfully affect cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis [62]. Mushroom polysaccharides impact various types of cancers [59]. Possible mechanisms of anticarcinogenic activity of mushroom polysaccharides include the inhibition of tumor cell growth, apoptosis induction and immune stimulation.

Palomares et al. proved that the consumption of fresh/dried mushroom powder in pre- and post-menopausal females prevents breast cancer [63]. A novel macromolecular polysaccharide VGPI-a was purified from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea using extraction methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, ion exchange and gel chromatography. VGPI-a is an α- glucan with a Mw of 1435.6 kDa and with a 1,4-linked D-Glcp backbone substituted at C-6 with 1-linked D-Glcp residue. VGPI-a displayed zero cytotoxicity on the macrophage RAW264.7 cells in vitro [64]; however, in terms of anticancer effect, it had a significant impact via enhancing the production and mRNA expression of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner. VGPI-a has also been documented to activate the MAPK signaling pathway by improving the phosphorylated levels of p38, JNK and ERK in RAW264.7 cells to promote the expression and secretion of the above cytokines.

In another study, the PAP-1a polysaccharides of Pholiota adiposa were isolated and the HPLGPC results revealed a 16.453 kDa PAP-1a made up of mannose, ribose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. PAP-1a activated macrophages to secrete NO and cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-12p70. PAP-1a also inhibited Hep-G2, Hep-3B, and Huh7 via immunoregulation and triggered cell apoptosis by blocking the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. PAP80-2a, purified from Pholiota adiposa mycelia, is another type of polysaccharide also known for its anticancer applications [65].

A wide range of antitumor or immunostimulating polysaccharides with different chemical structures have been reported [8]. Some correlation has been established between the chemical structure and antitumor activities of mushroom polysaccharides. Homopolymers to highly complex heteropolymers [66] exhibit anticarcinogenic activity. Differences in the anticarcinogenic activity of polysaccharides have been related to their ability to solubilize in water, the size of the molecules, branching rate and form. It is reported that additional structural features such as β-(1-3) linkages in the backbone (main chain) of the glucan and additional β-(1-6)-branch points add up to the anticarcinogenic effect. β-glucans with only (1-6) glycosidic linkages have little or no activity. Higher molecular weight glucans have been reported by Mizuno et al. [67] and Mizuno [68] to be more effective than those of low molecular weight against cancers. Given this fact, it is true that mushroom polysaccharides vary in their chemical composition, structure and anticancer activity [69,70]. The anticancer, antioxidative, immunomodulating activities of Ganoderma lucidum [70] fruiting bodies, which contain the heteroglycan Glycopeptide, have been reported; and the anticancer and immunomodulating properties of Lentinus edodes [69] fruiting bodies, which contain glucan, are well established. Pleurotus tuber-regium [71] fruiting bodies contain β-D-glucan, which displays anticancer as well as hepatoprotective properties.

Several mushroom-derived components have shown direct antitumor activity and prevent oncogenesis and metastasis. Polysaccharides improve cancer-related symptoms when used in combination with chemotherapy. These induce the gene expression of several immunomodulating cytokines and their receptors. β-glucan, a mushroom-derived glucose polymer, stimulates NK cells, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and T cells, as well as manifests immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects. Schizophyllan, a β-D-glucan isolated from Schizophyllum commune, when used along with tamoxifen, decreased the breast tumor and initiated apoptosis in hepatic carcinomas. Figure 3 gives an overview of the anticancer mechanisms operating via mushroom bioactive extracts.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Overview of the anticancer mechanisms of mushroom/mushroom polysaccharides. Abbreviations: PI3Ks—phosphoinositide 3-kinases; AKT—serine/threonine protein kinase; TCF/LEF—T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor family; Wnt—wingless and Int-1; VEGF—vascular endothelial growth factor); PARP—poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase; DJ-1—Parkinson disease protein 7; p21Waf1/Cip1—cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor; K-ras—Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue; NF-κB—Nuclear factor kappa B; WPOP-N1—Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharide.

4. Clinical Trials Based on Mushroom Polysaccharides

Mushroom polysaccharides, especially ß-glucans, krestin and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor and lentinan, isolated from Lentinula edodes (shiitake), have been well studied in humans [72]. Clinical studies conducted on the complementary use of mushroom polysaccharides combined with chemotherapy have led to the disease-free survival of colorectal cancer patients and improved the quality of life among lung cancer patients [73,74]. Lentinan has successfully prolonged the overall survival of gastric and colorectal carcinomas in cancer patients [75,76,77]. Recurrent gastric cancer patients showed prolonged median survival rates. In a randomized controlled study, the tegafur/combination of lentinan and tegafur significantly prolonged the overall survival rates. In Japan, during cancer chemotherapy on solid tumors, the patients administered lentinan had a significantly higher response rate (14.9%) than the patients without. The use of lentinan in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic agents decreased the side-effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, pain, hair loss and lowered immune status. Lentinan is now clinically applied for cancer treatment in both China and Japan. Lentinan can be both orally and intravenously administered in dosages of 1–2 mg as recommended by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) for intravenous infusion. Although the 123 independent studies show varied response rates, all chemotherapy plus lentinan groups showed promising results [78].

A large number of clinical trials have been demonstrated in Japan and schizophyllan has been approved for clinical use. Clinical studies using schizophyllan combined with conventional chemotherapy (tegafur or mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil) was applied to 367 patients with recurrent and inoperable gastric cancer, and an increase in the survival rates was evident [79], although this was inconsistent [80]. Schizophyllan has been reported to improve the overall survival rates of head and neck-related cancer cases [81]. In another randomized controlled study of schizophyllan in combination with radiotherapy, schizophyllan consistently improved the overall survival of stage II cervical cancer patients; this, however, was not the case with respect to stage III patients [82,83]. Another randomized clinical trial involving 312 patients, following surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy (fluorouracil) and schizophyllan in various combinations, showed positive results [84].

Kamiyama [85] conducted a clinical trial in Japan to evaluate the preventive effect of active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC) against the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following surgical resection. Their results showed that of the 300 cancer patients administered AHCC, 58 were effectively treated, and 46 showed complete or partial regression. Jones [86] reported an early pilot study from China involving 63 cancer patients against solid tumor, which showed a success rate of nearly 95% and 90% for leukemia.

Nanba [87,88] observed the tumor regression/remarkable symptomatic improvement in 11 out of 15 hepatocellular carcinomas with D-fraction plus Maitake. A combination of D-fraction plus Maitake showed an increase of 12–28%. The Food and Drug Administration (USA) approved Grifon-D (GD) for clinical trials in patients with advanced cancer, and various other US-based clinical trials using mushroom polysaccharides are also underway at various institutions [87].

Deng et al. [89] recorded the response to the oral intake of G. frondosa polysaccharide extracts in 34 postmenopausal breast cancer patients. They reported that these patients became disease-free after primary treatment as part of a phase I/II trial. They observed marked increases in TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-10 production and a one-fifth reduction in IFN-γ production. Grinde et al. [90] reported positive changes in mRNA (qPCR), in a clinical trial with chronic hepatitis patients when β-glucan mushroom polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei were used.

Clinical trials have been performed on the following medicinal mushrooms (MMs): Agaricus bisporus (single trial, [91]); A. blazei (three trials, [90,92,93]); A. sylvaticus (two trials; [94,95]); Antrodia cinnamomea (single trial, [44]); Coriolus versicolor (two trials, [36,37]); Ganoderma lucidum (single trial, [35]); Grifola frondosa (three trials, [89,96,97]); Lentinus edodes (four trials, [98,99,100,101]); Phellinus rimosus (single trial, [102]); and Poria cocos (single trial, [103]).

AndosanTM (ACE Co. Ltd. produced for Immunopharma, Gifu-ken, Japan, is a product made from the mycelium of Agaricus blazei, as well as smaller amounts of Grifola frondosa (3%) and Hericium erinaceus (15%). This has been successfully tested in various clinical trials, demonstrating anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic action, because of the mushroom-derived β-glucans and isoflavonoids [104]. It is said that the β-glucana stimulate the Peyer’s patches in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), together with other less-defined absorbable low-molecular-weight (LMW) substances, such as flavonoids [104]. In 2015, Tangen et al. [93] reported the oral administration of Andosan (60 mL/d) for seven weeks to patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Increased CD4+, CD127d+, and CD25+ Treg cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (CD303+) were observed. Moreover, significant increases in serum levels of interleukins IL-1ra (receptor antagonist), IL-5, and IL-7 were also reported [105]. Table 2 highlights the milestones achieved by mushroom polysaccharides in cancer mycotherapy.

Table 2.

Clinical studies based on mushroom polysaccharides-based mycotherapy.

Mushroom sps Type of Cancer Polysaccharide Details of Clinical Study
Agaricus bisporus Ovarian Mushroom polysaccharide Correlated mushroom intake and epithelial ovarian cancer in 500 participants, an observational study
AndosanTM, a product made from the mycelium of Agaricus blazei, as well as smaller amounts of Grifola frondosa (3%) and Hericium erinaceus (15%), Various cancers β-glucans Tested in various clinical trials, demonstrating antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic action
AndosanTM, a product made from the mycelium of Agaricus blazei, as well as smaller amounts of Grifola frondosa (3%) and Hericium erinaceus (15%), Multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) β-glucans AndosanTM extract was orally administered (60 mL/d) for seven weeks to patients, the overall survival increased notably
Lentinula edodes Esophageal cancer Lentinan Lentinan + RT treated, decrease in RT toxicity
Lentinula edodes Gastric cancer Lentinan Lentinan + XELOX chemotherapy; enhanced XELOX chemotherapy response rate and performance status, decreased CT toxicity
Lentinula edodes Unresectable/recurrent gastric cancer Lentinan Lentinan + CT the MST was 139 days and CT alone given then MST was 114 days; increase in survival rate and response rate
Lentinula edodes Colorectal cancer Lentinan Lentinan + FOLFOX chemotherapy combined gave better response rate, performance status, and decreased CT toxicity
Lentinula edodes Advanced (gastrointestinal, liver and lung) cancer Lentinan Lentinan + CT; enhanced survival rate, response rate, PoD, decreased CT toxicity
Lentinula edodes Lung cancer Lentinan Lentinan + CT combined the resp. rate was 56.9% while for CT alone the resp. rate was 43.3%; lentinan led to higher response rate
Lentinula edodes Non-small cell lung cancer Lentinan Lentinan + CT -better response rate, decreased CT toxicity
Lentinula edodes Malignant pleural effusion Lentinan Lentinan (intrapleural infusion) + CT led to enhanced response rate and QoL, decreased CT toxicity
Coriolus versicolor Gastric, oesophageal, colorectal, breast and lung cancers Protein bound polysaccharide PSK, Krestin Immunostimulant, inhibits tumor growth Orally administered
Coriolus versicolor Gastric, esophageal, colorectal, breast and lung cancers Polysaccharide peptide PSP Immunostimulant, inhibit tumor growth Oral administration
Grifola frondosa Lung, lingual, breast, gastric, or liver cancer D-fraction (β-glucan) Inhibition of the progression of metastasis and reduced expression of (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15–3 (CA15–3) and CA19–9) tumor markers
Schizophyllum commune Gastric, cervical cancer Polysaccharide SPG, Sonifilan Immunostimulant, intratumorally administered
Schizophyllum commune Recurrent and inoperable gastric cancer Schizophyllan combined with conventional chemotherapy (tegafur or mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil 367 patients studied with positive results
Schizophyllum commune Cervical cancer Schizophyllan in combination with radiotherapy, Schizophyllan consistently improved the overall survival of stage II cervical cancer patients
Grifola frondosa Hepatocellular carcinomas D-fraction plus Maitake 11 out of 15 hepatocellular carcinomas treated with a combination of D-fraction plus Maitake, showed an increased overall rate of 12–28%
Ganoderma lucidum Lung cancer Ganopoly® (a polysaccharide product from G. lucidum Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed in 68 patients; improvement in immunological functions, with significant increases in plasma IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ concentrations, Cd56+, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) responses and NK activity; significant decreases in IL-1 and TNF-α
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Legend: CT = chemotherapy; MST = median survival time; PoD = progression of disease; RT = radiotherapy.

5. Challenges and Future Perspectives

Mushroom polysaccharides and their positive effects in terms of their contributions to anticancer activity have been reviewed and confirmed as consistently valid. However, on the flip side, the adverse events (AE) following treatment with mushroom polysaccharides have not been that well documented. Few clinical trials have described the adverse effects of mushroom extracts [35,44,106]. Breast cancer patients undergoing onendocrine therapy along with G. lucidum recorded mild discomfort such as dizziness and dry mouth [35]. The mycelial extracts of Lentinula failed to reduce prostate-specific antigen levels in a phase II study of 74 prostate cancer patients [100]. Additionally, White et al. [99] recorded the inability of shiitake mushroom extract to lower the prostate-specific antigen levels or even keep them stable in 62 prostate cancer patients. Such adverse/ill effects/nil effects have not been determined in the case of mushroom polysaccharides.

There are other reports that confirm the inability and incapacity of mushroom extracts to treat cancer. Fortes et al. [107] followed 56 post-surgery colorectal cancer patients treated with Agaricus sylvaticus extract with no improvement in their quality of life [107]. In another clinical trial with 37 patients with lung, breast, liver, stomach, and colorectal advanced adenocarcinoma who were undergoing chemotherapy for 30 d, when Antrodia cinnamomea was administered, no significant improvements other than sleep (p = 0.04) [44] were recorded. More frequent but less intense (grade 1 and 2) gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain and diarrhea) were reported. Oka et al. [106] reported diarrhea, stomach discomfort and poor health in 6 out of 123 colorectal adenoma cases receiving G. lucidum. Such adverse effects or inabilities of mushroom polysaccharides have not been ideally worked out. This review emphasizes that this gap needs to be filled so that the holistic clinical potential of mushroom polysaccharides can be worked out and therapies improved upon.

Few clinical studies have been conducted with mushroom polysaccharides, however, they have all been conducted within a limited framework. The clinical testing protocols are still rather unstructured, having dominant shortcomings and gaps. No standard procedure for the evaluation of results is available, and the value of such studies is undermined in several respects [108,109]. Moreover, not all trials were randomized or had a placebo control [110,111] nor were double-blinded where safety and side effects are neglected. Some studies also rely on subjective assessments such as the quality of life so that the examined result may not have any real scientific value [92,112]. Again, in most cases, the so-called pilot or phase I studies have no follow-up. The results thus remain only wholly preliminary.

It is also difficult to compare the results obtained in separate clinical studies. This is because the preparation method used to carry out the trial plays a crucial role. Even for the same fungal species tested opposite, different results were obtained, as in the case of Yoshimura et al. [113] and Ohno et al. [112] with A. blazei Murrill. This is because the extraction procedures were not clearly standardized. Similarly, in another case, whatever was tested for a specific action has already been proven in other trials, and may become completely ineffective, or deleterious, worsening the clinical picture [114,115]. This is because of the extraction procedure, concentration of the metabolite and the age, as well as the location-related influences of the mushroom batch used. Additionally, under similar conditions, the medicinal properties can vary enormously depending on the strain, the geographical area, the growing conditions and the substrate used, the part of the mushroom used, and the growing stage at the moment of processing. All these parameters changed the composition of the mushroom and, consequently, its bioactive capacity. Thus, since these aspects are case sensitive, there is no way that the results can be generalized. This has to be worked on and working procedures must be optimized.

In recent years, research into medicinal mushrooms has progressed exponentially, but is far from over. Many species are yet to be explored for their pharmacological properties. The identification of the anticancer biomolecules from various mushroom extracts is lacking. The metabolites responsible for the anticancer activity, their chemical characterization, and their mechanism of action have been under-investigated. There is also an urgent need to know their individual and synergistic effects and their in vivo dynamics. It is also necessary to standardize the production of mushroom supplements throughout the supply chain, from cultivation to extraction and the preparation of the commercial formulation, as well as precise monitoring and regulation to ensure high quality levels and yield consistent results.

Several studies have been conducted; however, with the promising potential of mushroom polysaccharides, there is a long way to go. Mushroom polysaccharides could have a lot more to offer, which needs to be disclosed. Additionally, it was seen that only the same few mushroom types have been worked upon. With exhaustive list of edible mushrooms, it is crucial that the work on mushroom polysaccharides be expanded. The other concern includes lapses in the proper utilization of mushroom polysaccharides for anticancer activity [105].

Figure 4 highlights the fact that mushroom polysaccharides with respect to anticancer applications need to be worked out more elaborately. As highlighted by our pubmed search using mushroom-related keywords such as: ‘mushroom and bioactivity’, which were backed up by 1320 reports (Figure 4a); ‘mushroom and antitumor’ (693 reports) (Figure 4b); ‘mushroom polysaccharides’ (3180 reports) (Figure 4c); ‘mushroom polysaccharides and bioactivity’ (445 reports) (Figure 4d); and ‘mushroom polysaccharides and anticancer’ (230 reports) (Figure 4e). This keyword search clearly indicates that the application of mushroom polysaccharides in anticancer studies has been much less researched than mushroom extracts versus anticancer activity. There is room for expanding and extrapolating mushroom polysaccharides to cancer mycotherapy with more fervor.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Figure 4

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A pubmed-based search showing the updated trend in medicinal mushroom research. The keywords that defined the search were (a) mushroom and bioactivity (1320 reports); (b) mushroom and anticancer (693 reports); (c) mushroom polysaccharides (3180 reports); (d) mushroom polysaccharides and bioactivity (445 reports); and (e) mushroom polysaccharides and anticancer (230 reports).

6. Conclusions

The benefits of mushroom polysaccharides and the milestones reached with respect to anticancer activity have been reviewed. The successful use of mushroom polysaccharides for clinical investigations and the progress made in the application area of clinical trials have been summarized. The challenges facing the use of mushroom polysaccharides as well as their limitations were also discussed under a future prospective. The need to explore and standardize has been emphasized. Optimization is crucial for the translation of the available bioactivity to clinical studies. More human trials and clinical experiments are needed. The commercialization of trustworthy and tested well-accomplished mushroom products should be a potentially rewarding area, if focused appropriately.

Acknowledgments

This article was supported by the KU Research Professor Program of Konkuk University.

Author Contributions

I.S., M.M. and J.G., preparation of original draft, revisions; J.-W.O. participated in the review and revisions and funding support. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Sample Availability

Not applicable.

Funding Statement

This research received no external funding.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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