For hundreds of years, medicinal mushrooms have been utilized in a variety of cultures to treat a multitude of health conditions, from infections to chronic diseases. For more than thirty years, medicinal mushrooms have been approved in East Asian countries such as Japan and China as a safe single agent or as an agent to be used alongside conventional cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.[1] In the United States (US), the Food and Drug Administra5on (FDA) has not yet approved the use of medicinal mushrooms as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition for that matter, however this does not mean patients are not still curious about the role this fantastic fungi may play in the prevention, treatment, and survivorship phases of a well executed cancer care plan.
One of the most inspiring attributes of the oncology community, is the continued pursuit of information and desire for knowledge. Oncology patients and clinicians alike continue to strive to learn about the use of these integrative therapies, such as medicinal mushrooms, and their current application. With the introduction of any new treatment —conventional or integrative— one of the primary concerns is the unknown regarding their potential side effect profiles. However, even the most widely utilized conventional cancer therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery can also still come with a plethora of unfavorable side effects profiles. These can influence a patient’s quality of life, eating abilities and performance status to name a few.[2] This article aims to review some of the current mushrooms of interest as well as ways to utilize them in culinary practice. Future high-quality clinical research should be prioritized to advance this promising treatment modality.
1) Turkey Tail (Coriolus versicolor) – This fungi is currently administered in Japan for cancer treatment, however has also been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of thousands of years for treatment of other ailments. Studies suggest that when used in an adjuvant setting, Polysaccharide- K “PSK”, a proprietary product derived from this mushroom, may improve survival for patients with gastric and colorectal cancer.[1]
2) Shiitake (Pasania fungus) – One of the most notable characteristics of this fungi is the compound known as lentinan, which has been shown to mediate anticancer effects. Studies have demonstrated that compounds isolated from Shiitake have been effective in the treatment of many cancer types as well as improving he quality of life of cancer patients. These include: lung, gastric, ovarian, colorectal, cervical, and Non- Hodgkin lymphoma.[3]
3) Oyster (Hao gu) – This is another fungi that has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions ranging from infections to diabetes. Preclinical studies do suggest that this edible fungus contains anti tumor properties, as well as potentially effective as a radio sensitizer in treating cervical cancer.[4]
4) Reishi (Lingzhi) – This fungi has also gained interest for its’ ability to enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Although, the review of the literature has been conducted in mostly tumor cell lines and animal models.[5]
It is important to remember that with preparation of any food item —raw or cooked—patients undergoing cancer treatment must practice adequate food hygiene and handling. Historically, a neutropenic diet that avoided fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. was recommended to patients, however, this has since been retracted and instead, an emphasis on thorough washing, preparation and storage has been the main point of education.[6] When cooking, mushrooms are very easily incorporated into many of the dishes you know and love. They can be added to the beginning of a stock or broth to provide an inconspicuous depth of flavor. They can also be added to any skillet or sauté dish with a myriad of other vegetables. And last but not least, mushrooms can be cooked down and diced into a homemade vegetable burger blend—perfect for skillet frying, baking, or grilling. You can even use some of the larger mushrooms, such as portobellos, for the patty itself. The possibilities are truly endless.
At Cancer Nutrition Care, we hope you found these tips helpful and empowering. While we know nutrition is not the only part of a patient’s care plan, it is certainly a crucial and impactful part that we strive to assist with. If you have any questions or would like set up a consultation with one of our Board Certified Specialists in Oncology Nutrition, please visit our website.
Reference List:
1. PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®): Health Professional Version. In: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries. National Cancer Institute (US); 2002. Accessed February 8, 2024. hhp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ books/NBK401261/
2. Significance of Medicinal Mushrooms in Integrative Oncology: A Narrative Review – PubMed. Accessed February 18, 2024. hhps://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.cmich.idm.oclc.org/ 33424591/
3. Balakrishnan B, Liang Q, Fenix K, et al. Combining the Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Effects of Astragalus and Shiitake as an Integrated Therapeutic Approach. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2564. doi:10.3390/nu13082564
4. Meza-Menchaca T, Poblete-Naredo I, Albores-Medina A, et al. Ergosterol Peroxide Isolated from Oyster Medicinal Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), Potentially Induces Radiosensitivity in Cervical Cancer. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020;22(11):1109-1119. doi:10.1615/ IntJMedMushrooms.2020036673
5. Rossi P, Difrancia R, Quagliariello V, et al. B-glucans from Grifola frondosa and Ganoderma lucidum in breast cancer: an example of complementary and integrative medicine. Oncotarget. 2018;9(37):24837-24856. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.24984
6. Neutropenic Diet | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Accessed February 28, 2024. hhps://www.mskcc.org/experience/patient-support/nutrition-cancer/diet-plans-cancer/ neutropenic-diet