Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
186,541 studies31 sourcesUpdated 5 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in oncology

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides in cancer immunotherapy: mechanisms, human evidence, and translational priorities

  • Sylvester Chibueze Izah1
  • Ebinyo Rebecca Aseibai2
  • Kingsley Excel Dunga3
  • Matthew Chidozie Ogwu4
  • Vivian Ibienebakabobo Promise5
  • Nsikak Godwin Etim6
  • Irene Nneka Ohanusi7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University , , ,
  2. 2Department of Microbiology, Federal University Otuoke , ,
  3. 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University , , ,
  4. 4Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development, Appalachian State University , , ,
  5. 5Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University , , ,
  6. 6Niger-Delta Institute for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Federal University Otuoke , , ,
  7. 7Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hezekiah University , , ,
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides are widely promoted as anticancer immune modulators, but interpretation is weakened by imprecise product identity, chemically non-equivalent preparations, and extrapolation across evidence levels. This critical narrative review evaluates beta-glucans, heteropolysaccharides, polysaccharide-protein complexes, crude fractions, modified derivatives, and multicomponent extracts as preparation-specific adjunct candidates. Receptor-level evidence is strongest for general fungal beta-glucan systems, particularly Dectin-1/Syk/CARD9 signaling and conditional complement receptor 3 cooperation; direct transfer of those mechanisms to individual mushroom preparations requires product-specific causal testing. Selected animal studies support myeloid remodeling, dendritic-cell and natural-killer-cell effects, and T-cell activation, but route, exposure, product characterization, and model limitations constrain translation. Human evidence remains heterogeneous: historical randomized PSK studies reported benefit in specific adjuvant chemotherapy settings, a later phase III lentinan trial was negative for overall survival, and small maitake, Agaricus , and pleuran studies mainly report immune surrogates. Direct clinical evidence with checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies, or cancer vaccines is not established. The field should therefore move from species-level claims to product-level development with authenticated source material, orthogonal structural analysis, contaminant control, mechanism-linked potency, route-specific pharmacokinetics, tumor pharmacodynamics, and randomized testing against contemporary standard care. Mushroom-derived polysaccharide immunomodulators remain plausible research candidates, but neither the class nor unstandardized mushroom foods or supplements are clinically validated substitutes for established cancer treatment.

Related

  1. Physiological Basis of Skeletal Muscle Electrical Stimulation in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Established Mechanisms, Extrapolated Mechanisms and Translational Priorities
    Damian Sendrowski, Dariusz Kozłowski
    BiomedicinesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  2. Antibody–drug conjugates and immunogenic cell death in breast cancer: agent-specific mechanisms, clinical evidence and translational priorities
    Linghui Fang, Jialu Song, Xiaohui Wang +2
    Frontiers in ImmunologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textOncologyCrossref
  3. Planetary Health Diet-Compatible Food Substitutions in Obesity: Direct Evidence, Gut–Organ Mechanisms, and Translational Priorities
    Minru Lin, Deju Zhang, Siyao Li +2
    NutrientsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0NutritionCrossref
  4. Edible Mushroom Polysaccharides as Functional Food Ingredients for Metabolic Health: Preparation, Techno-Functional Behavior, and Requirements for Translation.
    Ming Chen, Ruifan Zou, Jie Chen +3
    Foods (Basel, Switzerland)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textPharmacology & toxicologyEurope PMC
  5. Bridging the Translational Gap in Artificial Intelligence for Otology and Neurotology: Clinical Readiness, Limitations, and Research Priorities
    Pasquale Viola, Teodoro Aragona, Pietro De Luca +6
    Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{izah2026mushroomderived,
  title = {{Mushroom-derived polysaccharides in cancer immunotherapy: mechanisms, human evidence, and translational priorities}},
  author = {Sylvester Chibueze Izah and Ebinyo Rebecca Aseibai and Kingsley Excel Dunga and Matthew Chidozie Ogwu and Vivian Ibienebakabobo Promise and Nsikak Godwin Etim and Irene Nneka Ohanusi},
  journal = {Frontiers in oncology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.3389/fonc.2026.1955408},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662765},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Mushroom-derived polysaccharides in cancer immunotherapy: mechanisms, human evidence, and translational priorities
AU  - Sylvester Chibueze Izah
AU  - Ebinyo Rebecca Aseibai
AU  - Kingsley Excel Dunga
AU  - Matthew Chidozie Ogwu
AU  - Vivian Ibienebakabobo Promise
AU  - Nsikak Godwin Etim
AU  - Irene Nneka Ohanusi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Frontiers in oncology
DO  - 10.3389/fonc.2026.1955408
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662765
AB  - Mushroom-derived polysaccharides are widely promoted as anticancer immune modulators, but interpretation is weakened by imprecise product identity, chemically non-equivalent preparations, and extrapolation across evidence levels. This critical narrative review evaluates beta-glucans, heteropolysaccharides, polysaccharide-protein complexes, crude fractions, modified derivatives, and multicomponent extracts as preparation-specific adjunct candidates. Receptor-level evidence is strongest for general fungal beta-glucan systems, particularly Dectin-1/Syk/CARD9 signaling and conditional complement receptor 3 cooperation; direct transfer of those mechanisms to individual mushroom preparations requires product-specific causal testing. Selected animal studies support myeloid remodeling, dendritic-cell and natural-killer-cell effects, and T-cell activation, but route, exposure, product characterization, and model limitations constrain translation. Human evidence remains heterogeneous: historical randomized PSK studies reported benefit in specific adjuvant chemotherapy settings, a later phase III lentinan trial was negative for overall survival, and small maitake, Agaricus , and pleuran studies mainly report immune surrogates. Direct clinical evidence with checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies, or cancer vaccines is not established. The field should therefore move from species-level claims to product-level development with authenticated source material, orthogonal structural analysis, contaminant control, mechanism-linked potency, route-specific pharmacokinetics, tumor pharmacodynamics, and randomized testing against contemporary standard care. Mushroom-derived polysaccharide immunomodulators remain plausible research candidates, but neither the class nor unstandardized mushroom foods or supplements are clinically validated substitutes for established cancer treatment.
SN  - 2234-943X
ER  -