The Tumor Growth Inhibitory Effect of a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula edodes Mycelia Using Patient Derived Xenograft Model

Abstract

Patient derived xenograft (PDX) is a powerful tool to confirm pharmacological efficacy in non-clinical studies for the development of various drugs including anti-cancer agents and therapeutic research. A standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, a product name AHCC^® is produced by Amino Up Co., Ltd. (Sapporo, Japan). In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of AHCC^® on the growth of tumor PDX in Super SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice. Effects of AHCC^® and BCG administration on the growth of renal cancer PDX implanted in Super SCID mice were evaluated by PDX growth curve. Tendency for the effects on the growth of renal cancer PDX in Super SCID by administration of AHCC^® and BCG before implanting the PDX were demonstrated. The effects of the oral administration of AHCC^® on the growth of renal, invasive and non-invasive breast cancer PDX in Super SCID mice were studied. In Super SCID mice transplanted with renal cancer PDX, AHCC^® significantly suppressed tumor proliferation from the day 48 to 83 after transplantation. In two types of breast cancer PDX, tendency of the growth inhibitory effects of AHCC^® were shown by PDX growth curve. Significant inhibitory effect was found at only one time point for during proliferation in each PDX. Super SCID-PDX model has the potential to be a useful tool to investigate for the effect of functional foods.