Mycotherapy: Could a fungus be the key to curing cancer?

Mushrooms generate compounds with very valuable medicinal properties. what hasn given rise to drugs such as antibiotics, statins and immunological treatments. Today its use is being studied in therapies against different types of cancer.

Fungi have been a part of humanity since time immemorial. Beyond their nutritional value and their importance in the decomposition of organic matter, these organisms are an inexhaustible source of compounds with therapeutic potential.

A clear example of this is penicillin, an antibiotic derived from the fungus penicillium notatum that revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections in the twentieth century.

Since then, there has been constant progress in the medicinal use of mushrooms, and their application in cancer treatment is currently being studied.

Use of metabolites in medicine

These therapeutic properties have their origin in fungal metabolites, essential compounds for the growth and reproduction of fungi that give them adaptive advantages such as defense against predators or competition with other species. Many of them, and here comes the most interesting part, have therapeutic applications, as is the case with some antibiotics, such as penicillins (penicillium notatum) and cephalosporins (Acremonium spp).

Other examples are cyclosporine A, extracted from Tolypocladium inflatum, which is widely used to prevent rejection in organ transplants due to its immunosuppressive effect. Likewise, the well-known statinas, which help control cholesterol, also derive from fungal metabolites. lovastatin, obtained from Aspergillus terreus, was the first statin used and served as the basis for the development of other drugs such as atorvastatin and simvastatin.

It is important to keep in mind that up to now Only 10% of the fungal kingdom has been explored, which means that research into its active ingredients is still in its infancy. This percentage makes current findings merely a starting point for what appears to be a very broad range of therapeutic uses.

Mushrooms with antitumor potential

Among the numerous lines of research, one of the most recent deals with its anticancer properties. In this sense, certain studies vitro have demonstrated the possibility that several fungi have the ability to slow the development of certain tumors. For example, ophiobolins (extracted from Cochliobolus miyabeanus) appear to slow the growth of tumor cells, and cytochalasins (of Phomopsis liquidambar) could help reduce metastases.

Two other examples are, on the one hand, the metabolites of Endocarpon pusillum y Antrodia cinnamomea, which sensitize the cells causing the chemotherapy be more effective. And on the other hand, the meleagrin (of Penicillium chrysogenum) reduces tumor growth in various types of breast cancer, even those resistant to standard treatments.

In addition, there are currently Several clinical trials are evaluating the efficacy of fungal metabolites in cancer patients.One of the most studied species is Ganoderma lucidum, since its metabolites (triterpenoids and polysaccharides) can modulate the immune system and promote the death of tumor cells.

Ganoderma It is a mushroom with a long history in East Asia as a medicinal mushroom dating back to writings from 206 BC, when it was considered a tonic to prolong life, prevent aging and stimulate growth. qi (in traditional Chinese medicine, vital energy or life force that maintains the balance of a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health).

Since then, it has been the subject of numerous investigations, and its use in breast, prostate and lung cancer is currently being studied, and the results indicate that its metabolites could improve the immune response in cancer patients.

Another mushroom widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, Lentinula edodes, increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in different types of cancer. It is also very promising Inonotus oblique, which has shown antioxidant and antiproliferative effects in the breast cancer and in the carcinoma hepathocellular.

In addition, compounds such as cordycepin (from Cordyceps sinensis) and ganoderica (of Ganoderma lucidum) appear to slow tumor growth in breast cancer colon.

Joint application with traditional treatments

In addition to the aforementioned studies, which focus on the properties of fungal metabolites per se, are also being carried out Clinical trials to see how they work when combined with cancer treatments, with the aim of increasing its effectiveness and reducing side effects.

In this sense, it is already being demonstrated that the combination of these compounds with chemotherapy o radiotherapy is a strategy that promises very positive resultsExamples of this are the lovastatin de Aspergillus terreus, applied to breast cancer, or mycophenolate mofetil de Penicillium spp. in lymphoma and leukemia.

These fungi represent a valuable source of compounds for the development of new anticancer drugs.

Positive results, promising progress

In light of the abundant scientific literature related to the antitumor potential of mushrooms, a promising future awaits. Furthermore, as research progresses, new compounds with anticancer properties are being identified, and extraction and purification techniques for their use in medicine are improving.

In this line of development, the Biotechnology plays a key role, as it allows for the large-scale production of fungal metabolites and the genetic modification of fungi to optimize their therapeutic activity.

Now, although the findings obtained have been decisive in the use of fungal metabolites in the treatment of cancer, the truth is that there are still numerous and important challenges to overcome, so it is It is crucial to continue researching to better understand the mechanisms of action of these compounds and ensure their safety in humans.

With a multidisciplinary approach that combines mycology, oncology and biotechnology, fungi could become a key tool against cancer.

Source: The Conversation

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