Polysaccharide K improves survival in cancer patients
A new study suggests gastric cancer patients who add an immune-enhancing Chinese mushroom, known as PSK to their chemotherapy treatment have improved survival rates.
The study, a meta-analysis – to be published in ‘Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy’ – analysed the results from more than 8,000 patients who took part in eight randomised controlled trials.
The aim of the study was to compare post-surgery patients who only had chemotherapy treatment, to those who had both chemotherapy and the immunopotentiator PSK.
PSK is an extract of the edible Chinese mushroom, Coriolus versicolor. It has been prescribed in Japan for decades as an adjuvant treatment for cancer patients.
Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, second only to lung cancer. The report’s six authors found: “PSK is effective as adjuvant immunochemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer.”
The addition of PSK to standard chemotherapy offers significant advantages in survival over chemotherapy alone for patients with curative resection of gastric cancers.
The director of Sydney’s PSK Information Foundation and the Centre for Digestive Diseases, Professor Thomas Borody, said the new study added further weight to the significant body of research into the efficacy of PSK mushrooms as a complementary treatment for cancer.
“Significant increases in overall survival and disease-free survival rates have been reported in patients given PSK with no significant side effects reported.”
The PSK Information Foundation’s website www.pskmushroom.info contains scientific and clinical information for medical professionals.
