Immune responses to water-soluble Ling Zhi mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst. Polysaccharides in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Preclinical studies have established that the polysaccharide fractions of Ganoderma lucidum have potent immunomodulating effects. A recent clinical study of healthy volunteers demonstrated that G. lucidum did not affect their immune functions. The present open-labeled study aimed to evaluate the effects of water-soluble G. lucidum polysaccharides (Ganopoly) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Forty-seven patients were enrolled and treated with Ganopoly at 5.4 g/day for 12 weeks. In 41 assessable cancer patients, treatment with Ganopoly tended to increase mitogenic reactivity to phytohemagglutinin; counts of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD56; plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-?; and NK activity, but to decrease the plasma concentrations of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a. No statistical significance was observed when a comparison was conducted between baseline values and those after 12-week treatment with Ganopoly. The changes of IL-1 were correlated with those of IL-6, IFN-?, CD3, CD4, CD8, and NK activity (p < 0.05), and IL-2 changes were correlated with those for IL-6, CD8, and NK activity. The results indicate that Ganopoly may have beneficial immunomodulating effects in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Further studies are needed to explore the mode of action, efficacy, and safety of Ganopoly in cancer patients.