title: Supplements for immune enhancement in hematologic malignancies.
abstract: This brief review aims to discuss the various cellular immunological aspects and related mechanisms of the use of specific components from traditional herbal medicines. We begin with lessons learned from thalidomide as an effective single drug with multiple mechanisms of action to treat multiple myeloma. Examples of "supplements" or integrative therapy will be drawn from arsenic trioxide, medicinal mushrooms including Coriolus vesicular and Ganoderma lucidum, followed by the discussion of beta-glucans affecting various immunological important cellular subsets. Different classes of compounds may enhance distinct immune cell populations that might contribute to a multi-targeted holistic effects on anti-cancer treatment. Finally, we conclude by highlighting an herbal formulation PHY906 as a potential adjunct to chemotherapy that might become one of the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral herbal medicines for anti-cancer adjunct treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. daniel.sze@polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Daniel Man-Yuen
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.forename: Godfrey Chi-Fung
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032902:Ganoderma / Q000737:chemistry; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055492:Polyporus; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010087:Oxides; C476037:PHY 906; D028321:Plant Preparations; D047071:beta-Glucans; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide