title: [Evaluation of quality of life and immune function in cancer patients receiving combined immunotherapy and oral administration of lentinula edodes mycelia extract].
abstract: Lentinula edodes mycelia extract(LEM) may mitigate the immunosuppression caused by regulatory T cells(Tregs), and it is therefore expected that LEM will be useful with cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the quality of life (QOL) and immune function in cancer patients receiving a combination of immunotherapy and oral administration of LEM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients who had received cancer immunotherapy were enrolled. They received cancer immunotherapy alone for the first 4 weeks, and were then administered LEM (1,800 mg/day) with cancer immunotherapy for the next 4 weeks. QOL scores and immune parameters were evaluated at weeks 0, 4, and 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total score for QOL was improved during the period with LEM administration compared to the period with immunotherapy alone. Interferon (IFN)-γ secretion from peripheral blood cells was increased during the period with LEM administration. The change in IFN-γ secretion in the LEM administration period possibly correlated with changes in the Treg population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of LEM may improve QOL and immunity in patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanigawa
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Yasunobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D020942:Shiitake Mushrooms / Q000737:chemistry*