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IMMPOWER CLINICAL
STUDIES
Numerous NK cell activity
tests have been done on patients with all types of cancers, and in 80 to 90% of
those patients, their NK cells could only kill about 20 to 30% of the cancer
cells during the first hour of the test. After just two weeks of taking AHCC,
however, the kill percentage increased to 60 to 70% in 99% of the patients.
The results of a study involving five patients with breast cancer were presented
at the November 5, 1995, meeting of the American Association for Cancer
Research. Each patient was treated with the same dosage of 3 grams per day of
AHCC. NK cell activity increased within two weeks and continued to do so as the
study progressed. At the end of the six- to eight-month study, two of the
patients were already in complete remission.
Another study of involved 27 cancer patients ranging in age from 42 to 57. The
types of cancers involved included breast, cervical, prostate, leukemia, and
multiple myeloma. All patients had low NK cell activity at the beginning of the
study. After only two weeks of taking the mushroom extract, the NK cell activity
had increased as follows: breast carcinoma 154-332%, cervical carcinoma
100-275%, prostatic cancer 174-385%, leukemia 100-240%, and multiple myeloma
100-537%. Furthermore, NK activity continued to rise throughout the six-month
study. (Study reported at the 87th Annual Meeting of the American Association
for Cancer Research, April 20, 1996.)
1. PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND (AHCC) ON THE
RECURRENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATIENTS.
H. Kitade, Y. Matsui, S. Takai, A. Imamura, Y. Kawaguchi, Y. Kamiyama, B. Sun,
K. Kosuna
XXXIIIrd Congress of the European Society for Surgical Research 1998
Many attempts have been made to stimulate immune system for cancer treatment.
Although several biologic response modifiers have been developed such as BCG,
Picibanil, PSK, interferon and interleukin-2, the clinical efficacy of the
substances has not been clearly elucidated. Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC)
is a newly developed biological response modifier. It is an extract of
basidiomycetes which is obtained by hybridization of several types of mushrooms.
This study was initiated to evaluate the preventative effect of AHCC on the
recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) patients after surgical
treatment.
In this study, 121 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma
were included. All of the patients underwent macroscopically curative resection
of a liver tumor. In 38 patients, AHCC (3-6 g/day) was administered orally after
surgery (Group A) and 18 patients began to take AHCC after recurrences were
verified (Group B). The other 65 patients served as controls (Group C). The
longest follow up periods were 39, 65 and 56 months respectively.
There were no significant differences between the three groups in the
distribution of age, gender, clinical stage, hepatitis type B and/or C
infection, amount of bleeding during surgery and resection volumes of the liver.
The survival rate of group A was significantly higher than Group C. The
disease-free survival in group A was also significantly higher than that in
Groups B and C. One year after surgery, the serum levels of tumor markers
(alpha-fetoprotein and PIVKA II) in group A were significantly lower that those
in groups B and C.
This retrospective study suggests that AHCC intake has a preventive effect in
postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Further detailed studies are
needed to elucidate the mechanism of the effect of AHCC.
2. IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTI-CANCER EFFECTS OF ACTIVE HEMICELLULOSE COMPOUND (AHCC)
Ghoneum M., Wimbley M., Salem F., McKlain A., Attallaf N., Gill G.
International Journal of Immunology XI (1) 23-28 (1995)
The effects of therapy with active hemicellulose compound (AHCC) were examined
in 11 cancer patients. AHCC is a mycelial extract of basidiomycota originating
from hybrid mushrooms. Significant anticancer activity by AHCC was observed with
advanced malignancies in patients given 3g of AHCC daily. The percentage of
patients with complete remissions were as follows: (I) prostatic, 2/3 (66%), PSA
level<0.2; (ii) ovarian, 2/3 (66%) CA125<35; (iii) multiple myeloma, 1/2 (50%),
BJP<5; (iv) breast, 1/3 complete remissions and 2 partial. Two mechanisms by
which AHCC exerts its effects were investigated. The first was natural killer (NK)
immunomodulation. Patients demonstrated a low base level of NK activity (18.8%),
which was significantly enhanced at 2 weeks (2.5 fold) and was maintained at a
high level. The second effect was anticancer properties. In vitro studies showed
that AHCC possesses suppressive effects on tumor cell growth. AHCC (1 mg/ml)
cultured with K562 and Raji tumor cells caused 21% and 43% decrease in cell
counts, respectively, as compared to control untreated cells. It is concluded
that the high augmentory effect of AHCC and the absence of notable side effects
make AHCC a promising immunotherapeutic agent for treatment of cancer patients.
3. NK-IMMUNOMODULATION BY ACTIVE HEMICELLULOSE COMPOUND IN 17 CANCER PATIENTS
Mamdooh Ghoneum, Ph.D.
Society of Natural Immunity, Taormina, Italy May 25-28, 1994
The present study was designed to examine the immunomodulatory function of
active hemicellulose compound (AHCC). AHCC is an extract of Mycelia
basidiomycota which was originated by hybridization of several types of
mushrooms. Seventeen cancer patients with different advanced malignancies
participated in the study: ovarian carcinoma (2), breast (5), lung (2),
rhabdomyosarcoma (1) and prostate (2). Patients received AHCC 3 g/day orally for
2-6 months. NK cell activity was examined by 4-hour Cr release assay against
sensitive K562 and resistant Raji tumor cells. Results showed significant
enhancement of NK activity against K562 as early as 2 weeks (2 to 3 fold of
baseline). Activity was further increased at subsequent time periods up to 6
months post treatment with AHCC. NK activation was also detected against Raji
cells, but at later stages, i.e., 1-2 months (2 to 10 fold). AHCC appears to
activate NK cells by increasing their binding capacity to tumor cell targets (2
fold), and also increasing NK cell granularity as examined microscopically, in
cytospin preparation and biochemically. On the other hand, flow cytometry
analysis showed no significant change in the percentage of NK cells (CD3-.
CD16+/CD56+). We conclude that AHCC is a potent immunomodulator and may be
useful in immunotherapy of cancer.
4. COMBINATION THERAPY OF ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND PLUS UFT
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE METASTATIS OF RAT MAMMARY ADENOCARCINOMA.
K. Matsushita, Y. Kuramitsu, Y. Ohiro, M. Obara, M. Kobayashi, Y. Li, and Mauo
Hosokawa
Anti-Cancer Drugs 1998, 9, pp.343-350
Synergistic effects of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) extracted from
mushroom on the treatment with UFT against mammary adenocarcinoma, SST-2 cells,
in congenitally T cell-depressed spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were
observed. AHCC plus UFT has slight but significant effects on the growth of
primary tumors. Pulmonary metastases were not inhibited by the treatment with
AHCC plus UFT, whereas metastases to axillary lymph nodes (LN) were obviously
inhibited. Combination of AHCC plus UFT showed similar synergistic anti-metastatic
effects in SHR rats with accelerated pulmonary metastatses following the
surgical removal of the primary tumors. In vitro studies demonstrated that AHCC
plus UFT enhanced NK cell activity in tumor-bearing rats, whereas UFT alone
depressed NK cell activity. AHCC plus UFT also enhanced the NO production and
cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages. In addition, AHCC restored the
suppressed mRNA expression of Interleukin-1-alpha and tumor necrosis
factor-alpha induced by chemotherapy. Taken together, the combination of AHCC
plus UFT brought about good therapeutic effects not only on primary tumor growth
but also on reducing metastasis and these effects were mediated by host immunity
which was restored or activated by AHCC. AHCC may be a good candidate for a
biological response modifier.
5. REDUCTION OF SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTICANCER DRUGS BY ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED
COMPOUND.
B. Sun, T. Mokoda, T. Kosuna, and F. Okada.
Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Volume 40 March 1999
Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), mycelian extracts of cultured
basidiomycetes, was examined in animal models to relieve side effects, such as
anemia, alopecia and liver injury induced by anticancer drugs.1. Male ddY mice
were treated with fluorouracil (5-FU, 50 mg/kg) or cyclophosphamide (CY, 100
mg/kg) or both daily for 14 days by i.p. and AHCC was given in a 5% diet for the
same period. Treatment with 5-FU and/or CY resulted in body weight loss,
decrease in the numbers of peripheral cells in blood and polychromatic
erythrocytes in bone marrow and were significantly restored by coadministration
with AHCC. 2. Male and female SD rats received cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C, Lp.,
50 mg/kg daily) for 7 days. AHCC was given for the same time period by either
p.o. (500 mg/kg), Lp. (500 mg/kg) or local swabbing (5% AHCC solution). The rats
treated with Ara-C showed severe alopecia (50-100% hair loss). However,
coadministration of Ara-C with AHCC protected from alopecia, especially when
AHCC was given p.o. in which only slight alopecia (0-50%) was observed. 3. Male
ddY mice were treated with mercaptopurine (60MP, 30 mg/kg) and methotrexate (MTX,
2.5 mg/kg) by p.o. for 4 weeks. AHCC was given at a dose of 1g/kg
simultaneously. Treatment with 6-MP and MTX resulted in a decrease of body
weight gain, serum albumin and triglyceride levels, liver drug metabolism enzyme
activities and the increases of liver weights, sGPT and sGOT levels obviously.
The liver injury was significantly improved by the coadministration with AHCC.
The results show that AHCC relieved the side effects induced by anticancer drugs
in animals.
6. PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND (AHCC) ON THE ONSET
OF DIABETES INDUCED BY STREPTOZOTOCIN IN THE RAT.
Kon Wakame
Biomedical Research 20 (3) 145-152, 1999
Effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) on the onset of diabetes
were studied in rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ). AHCC was given to male
rats at 4% in drinking water. A single I.V. injection of STZ (40 mg/kg body
weight) to rats resulted in an increase in blood glucose levels, a decrease in
serum insulin levels, suppression of body weight gain, and an increase in serum
GOT and GPT activities and serum levels of lipid peroxides. Treatment of AHCC
restored these parameters to normal. Insulin immunoreactive beta cells in
Langerhans islets reduced in number after treatment with STZ, while insulin
immunoreactivity in the islets was normalized when AHCC was administered to STZ-treated
rats. These results show that AHCC treatment is effective on the prevention of
diabetes onset induced by STZ.
7. ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND (AHCC) PROTECTS AGAINST CYTOSINE
ARABINOSIDE INDUCED ALOPECIA IN THE NEWBORN RAT ANIMAL MODEL
T. Mukoda, B. Sun, and K. Kosuna
Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, 89, p. 2405
8. PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF AHCC ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN
MICE
B. Sun, K. Wakame, T. Mukoda, A. Toyoshima, T. Kanawaza, K. Kosuna
Natural Medicine, 51, 310-315, 1997
9. ACTIVE HEMICELLULOSE COMPOUND ENHANCES NK CELL ACTIVITY OF AGED MICE IN-VIVO
M. Ghoneum, y. Ninomiya, M. Torabi, G. Gill, A. Wojdani
Abstract of Federation Association Society of Experimental Biology Meeting,
Anaheim, CA April 5-9, 1992
10. ENHANCEMENT OF HUMAN NK CELL ACTIVITY IN-VIVO BY ACTIVE HEMICELLULOSE
COMPOUND (AHCC)
M. Ghoneum, at al.
Abstract of 7th Annual Conference on Clinical Immunology, Philadelphia, PA,
November 13-15, 1992
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