Yamaguchi Y., Miyahara E., Hihara J. Efficacy and Safety of Orally Administered Lentinula edodes Mycelia Extract for Patients Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2011;39(3):451–459.
Rationale
LEM (shiitake mycelium extract) is used adjunctively in Japanese oncology practice; this pilot checked whether it affects quality of life and immune function during chemotherapy.
Methods
An open-label pilot: 10 patients with various solid tumors on adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy took oral LEM for 2–8 weeks; QLQ-C30 quality-of-life scoring and NK-cell activity were measured.
Results
Quality of life on QLQ-C30 improved and NK-cell activity rose during LEM intake.
Conclusions
LEM during chemotherapy was associated with better quality of life and immune activity — a hypothesis-consistent pilot.
Worth noting
Open-label, n=10, heterogeneous tumors and chemo regimens: a feasibility-level signal only. Its role is historical — the LEM line later produced the immunotherapy pilot below.