epiglucan and Carcinoma

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) MD-fraction containing beta-1,6 glucan with beta-1,3 branched chains has previously exhibited strong anticancer activity by increasing immune-competent cell activity.1,2 In this non-random case series, a combination of MD-fraction and whole maitake powder was investigated to determine its effectiveness for 22- to 57-year-old cancer patients in stages II-IV. Cancer regression or significant symptom improvement was observed in 58.3 percent of liver cancer patients, 68.8 percent of breast cancer patients, and 62.5 percent of lung cancer patients. The trial found a less than 10-20 percent improvement for leukemia, stomach cancer, and brain cancer patients. Furthermore, when maitake was taken in addition to chemotherapy, immune-competent cell activities were enhanced 1.2-1.4 times, compared with chemotherapy alone. Animal studies have supported the use of maitake MD-fraction for cancer.

Topics: Adult; Agaricales; Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; beta-Glucans; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Glucans; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms

To reduce the seroma formation following mastectomy and axillary dissection, many different techniques and drugs have been investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of oral β-glucan on drain fluid and efficacy of daily drainage and drain removal day in mastectomy patients.. One hundred and thirty breast cancer patients of Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital were divided into 2 groups by consecutive randomization (n = 65 each). β-glucan 10 mg capsules were administered to Group 1 twice a day for 10 days. Group 2 took placebos in the same manner. Age, menarche age, menopause, parity, history of oral contraceptives, comorbidities, postoperative daily drainage volumes and drain removal days were recorded and compared. Seroma samples during the first and second day of drainage were taken for analysis of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α).. There was no difference between groups in terms of age, menarche age, menopause period, parity, oral contraceptive use and comorbidities. Group 1 showed significantly lower daily drainage volumes between days 2 and 8. Mean drain removal day was 7.16 ± 1.72 in Group 1 and 8.59 ± 2.27 in Group 2. The difference was significant (p < 0.001). TNF-α and IL-6 levels on days 1 and 2 in Group 1 were significantly lower (p < 0.001). In addition, β-glucan significantly shortened the number of days required for the drain removal in patients who have comorbidities (p = 0.018). The earliest removal was in patients without comorbidity and who received β-glucan (p = 0.002).. β-glucan decreased drain discharges after mastectomy. The drains were removed earlier in β-glucan administered patients.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; beta-Glucans; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Double-Blind Method; Drainage; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6; Logistic Models; Mastectomy, Modified Radical; Middle Aged; Seroma; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Wound Healing

RNA interference technology is a powerful tool with substantially clinical prospects for carcinoma therapy, in which efficiency and specificity of delivery of dsRNA remains a critical issue. Herein, aiming at delivery of dsRNA in efficient and safe way, we constructed targeting delivery platform (CTL-PEG-FA) by grafting curdlan with trilysine through click reaction, then modifying with PEG linked folic acid. The CTL-PEG-FA vector exhibited excellent gene binding capacity to condense siRNA and dramatically reduced cytotoxicity. Increased cell uptake of CTL-PEG-FA/Bcl-2 siRNA was achieved by the synergism of folate mediated endocytosis and charge interaction, and further causing severe HepG2 cells injury through apoptosis mechanism after down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. In vivo experiments, CTL-PEG-FA/Bcl-2 siRNA complex distinctly accumulated in tumor site and significantly inhibited the growth of tumor, while no obvious toxicity was observed. Therefore, well-performed CTL-PEG-FA with excellent biocompatibility, has the potential to be the candidate of gene therapy for clinical applications.

Topics: beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Cell Line, Tumor; Folic Acid; Humans; Polyethylene Glycols; RNA, Small Interfering

β-(1,3)-D-Glucan with β-(1,6) branches has been reported to have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumour and anti-infection activities, which result from its immunomodulating effects. Gastric lesions result from an imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. In the present study, we examined the effect of β-(1,3)-D-glucan with β-(1,6) branches isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans on the gastric ulcerogenic response in mice. Oral administration of β-glucan ameliorated gastric lesions induced by ethanol (EtOH) or HCl. This administration of β-glucan also suppressed EtOH-induced inflammatory responses, such as infiltration of neutrophils and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules (CAM) at the gastric mucosa. Of the various defensive factors, the levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and mucin but not PGE(2) were increased by the administration of β-glucan. β-Glucan-dependent induction of the expression of HSP70 and mucin proteins and suppression of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and CAM were also observed in cultured cells in vitro. The results of the present study suggest that β-glucan protects the gastric mucosa from the formation of irritant-induced lesions by increasing the levels of defensive factors, such as HSP70 and mucin.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Carcinoma; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Gastric Mucins; Gastric Mucosa; Gene Expression Regulation; Glucans; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Irritants; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Neutrophil Infiltration; Protective Agents; RNA, Messenger; Stomach Neoplasms; Stomach Ulcer; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Intraperitoneal injection of beta-glucan was shown to greatly delay mortality in mice exposed to whole-body X-ray radiation and tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Since the leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers were increased by a single dose of beta-glucan, the radioprotective effect of beta-glucan is probably mediated, at least in part, by a hemopoietic action in irradiated mice. In addition, both natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activities were significantly increased by repeated doses of beta-glucan. Augmented immunological activity as seen in increased NK and LAK activity by beta-glucan seems to play a role in preventing secondary infections associated with irradiation, and probably contributes to the attenuated tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice through enhanced anti-tumor immunity. These results suggest that beta-glucan may be a promising adjunct treatment for cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; Killer Cells, Natural; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Radiotherapy; Random Allocation; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined antitumor effect of aminated beta-1,3-D-glucan (AG) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in an experimental liver metastasis model. Liver metastases were established by inoculation of C-26 colon carcinoma cells into the superior mesenteric vein of syngeneic mice. Treatment of mice started 24 hours after inoculation of tumor cells by daily intravenous injections of either AG, IFN-gamma, or a combination of both for a duration of 6 days. The resultant liver metastases were then quantified after an additional period of 11 days. Combination of IFN-gamma and AG inhibited the growth of liver metastases almost entirely. IFN-gamma was also very efficient, while AG alone did not exert any significant antitumor effect. These results, along with histological studies from mice receiving AG and IFN-gamma, indicated that activation and recruitment of liver macrophages may be a part of the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of metastatic growth observed in this study.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Synergism; Female; Glucans; Interferon-gamma; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasm Metastasis; Recombinant Proteins

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Basidiomycota; beta-Glucans; Carcinogens; Carcinoma; Chemoprevention; Glucans; Lentinan; Male; Methylcholanthrene; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mitomycin; Neoplasm Transplantation

The distribution of a 3H-labeled chemically modified antitumor beta-glucan, grifolan NMF-5N (I/B), in various tissues after an injection into mice was examined in order to obtain information on distribution of the parent antitumor beta-glucan, grifolan NMF-5N. Grifolan NMF-5N was treated with sodium metaperiodate and sodium borotritide to obtain tritium-labeled grifolan NMF-5N [3H-grifolan (I/B)]. When 3H-grifolan (I/B) was administered into normal mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intravenous (i.v.) injection, radioactivity was detected in various mouse tissues. Next, 3H-grifolan (I/B) was injected into tumor-bearing mice 7 d after the tumor inoculation, which is the most effective administration timing for the antitumor effect of grifolan NMF-5N. The results indicated a strong radioactivity in spleens and tumor masses. These results suggested a close relationship between the antitumor activity and the distribution of grifolan NMF-5N in mice.

Topics: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Fibrosarcoma; Glucans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred ICR; Tissue Distribution

Antitumor activity of grifolan NMF-5N, a beta-1,3-glucan obtained from mycelia of Grifola frondosa, was examined. Grifolan NMF-5N showed antitumor activities in allogeneic and syngeneic murine tumor systems. In the allogeneic tumor system, a potent antitumor activity over 95% was observed against the solid form of sarcoma 180 when grifolan NMF-5N was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at 25-200 micrograms/mouse daily for 10 successive days. In the syngeneic tumor systems, significant antitumor activities were observed against Meth A fibrosarcoma and MM 46 carcinoma by injection at 100 micrograms/mouse daily for 5 successive days, especially i.p. injection at day 7-11, when the tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously (s.c.) on day 0. Moreover, when grifolan NMF-5N was injected i.p. every other week, significant antitumor activity was also observed. In addition, a single treatment with grifolan NMF-5N at 500 micrograms/mouse showed antitumor activities. Grifolan NMF-5N exhibited antitumor activities against these two syngeneic tumors by intraveneous (i.v.) injection. However, a marked inhibitory activity was observed by intratumorous (i.t.) injection against Meth A fibrosarcoma but not against MM46 carcinoma. These results suggest that antitumor activities of grifolan NMF-5N in murine syngeneic tumor systems depend on not only dosage but also injection routes and timing.

Topics: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Drug Administration Schedule; Fibrosarcoma; Glucans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred ICR; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neoplasms, Experimental