Medical mushrooms used for biochemical failure after radical treatment for prostate cancer: an open-label study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of two different types of medical mushrooms in patients with prostate cancer in Japan.


METHODS
Patients with biochemical failure after radical treatment for non-metastasized prostate cancer were enrolled in this open-label study. For 6 months they ingested one of the two following supplements: Senseiro, containing extracts from the Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom; and Rokkaku Reishi, containing the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom. Levels of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and PSA doubling time were examined before and after study entry to assess the impact of these supplements on disease progression. The primary end-point of this study was partial response rate (50% or more decrease of serum PSA). Hormonal status, represented by serum testosterone levels, and toxicity were also assessed.


RESULTS
A total of 51 patients were enrolled following radical prostatectomy. Forty-seven completed the protocol and could be assessed. Thirty-two patients received Senseiro and the remaining 15 received Rokkaku Reishi. No partial response in terms of PSA was observed. Alteration of PSA doubling time did not correlate with that of serum testosterone levels. Serious adverse effects were not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant anticancer effects were observed with the intake of these two medical mushrooms.
Yoshimura
Koji
K
Department of Urology, Translational Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Kamoto
Toshiyuki
T
Ogawa
Osamu
O
Matsui
Shigeyuki
S
Tsuchiya
Norihiko
N
Tada
Harue
H
Murata
Keiko
K
Yoshimura
Kenichi
K
Habuchi
Tomonori
T
Fukushima
Masanori
M
D000364:Agaricus; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D020940:Reishi; D017211:Treatment Failure
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen