title: Lung cancer and β-glucans: review of potential therapeutic applications.
abstract: The potential of natural substances with immunotherapeutic properties has long been studied. β-glucans, a cell wall component of certain bacteria and fungi, potentiate the immune system against microbes and toxic substances. Moreover, β-glucans are known to exhibit direct anticancer effects and can suppress cancer proliferation through immunomodulatory pathways. Mortality of lung cancer has been alarmingly increasingly worldwide; therefore, treatment of lung cancer is an urgent necessity. Numerous researchers are now dedicated to using β-glucans as a therapy for lung cancer. In the present attempt, we have reviewed the studies addressing therapeutic effects of β-glucans in primary and metastatic lung cancer published in the time period of 1991-2016.
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Raheleh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahla Roudbar
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. M_roudbary@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roudbary
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Monirehmohsenzadegan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohsenzadegan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans
keywords: Drug resistance; Immunomodulatory activity; Lung cancer; β-glucans