Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma
Published on: June 2, 2023
Novel Medicinal Mushroom Blend as a Promising Supplement in Integrative Oncology: A Multi-Tiered Study using 4T1
Elisa Roda1,2, Fabrizio De Luca1, Carmine Di Iorio1
1Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Abstract:
Although medicinal mushroom extracts have been proposed as promising anti-cancer agents, their precise impacts on metastatic breast cancer are still to be clarified. For this purpose, the present study exploited the effect of a novel medicinal mushroom blend, namely Micotherapy U-care, in a 4T1 triple-negative mouse breast cancer model. Mice were orally administered with Micotherapy U-care, consisting of a mixture of Agaricus blazei, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, and Lentinula edodes. The syngeneic tumor-bearing mice were generated by injecting 4T1 cells in both supplemented and non-supplemented mice. After sacrifice 25 days later, specific endpoints and pathological outcomes of the murine pulmonary tissue were evaluated. (i) Histopathological and ultrastructural analysis and (ii) immunohistochemical assessment of TGF-ß1, IL-6 and NOS2, COX2, SOD1 as markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were performed. The QoL was comparatively evaluated. Micotherapy U-care supplementation, starting before 4T1 injection and lasting until the end of the experiment, dramatically reduced the pulmonary metastases density, also triggering a decrease of fibrotic response, and reducing IL-6, NOS, and COX2 expression. SOD1 and TGF-ß1 results were also discussed. These findings support the valuable potential of Micotherapy U-care as adjuvant therapy in the critical management of triple-negative breast cancer.
Insights
This study shows that Micotherapy U-care, a medicinal mushroom blend, significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in triple-negative breast cancer models. It also decreases inflammation and oxidative stress markers, supporting its potential as an adjuvant therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Medicinal mushroom extracts show anti-cancer potential, but their effects on metastatic breast cancer require clarification.
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to limited treatment options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a novel medicinal mushroom blend, Micotherapy U-care, as an adjuvant therapy for TNBC.
- To evaluate the impact of Micotherapy U-care on pulmonary metastasis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in a 4T1 mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Oral administration of Micotherapy U-care (a blend of five mushroom species) to 4T1 tumor-bearing mice.
- Histopathological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical analyses of pulmonary tissues.
- Assessment of inflammatory (IL-6, NOS2, COX2) and oxidative stress (SOD1) markers, and TGF-ß1.
Main Results:
- Micotherapy U-care supplementation significantly reduced pulmonary metastasis density in mice.
- The treatment decreased fibrotic response, IL-6, NOS2, and COX2 expression in the lungs.
- Modulation of SOD1 and TGF-ß1 levels was observed and discussed.
Conclusions:
- Micotherapy U-care demonstrates significant anti-metastatic effects in a TNBC mouse model.
- The mushroom blend shows potential as an adjuvant therapy to mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress in TNBC management.
