Mushrooms as potent autophagy modulators in cancer therapy: Current evidence and therapeutic prospects - PubMed
7 hours ago
- #Autophagy
- #Mushrooms
- #Cancer Therapy
- Mushrooms are emerging as promising autophagy modulators in cancer therapy.
- Autophagy is a cellular degradation process triggered by various factors like organelle damage and nutrient scarcity.
- Over 18 mushroom species and 28 bioactive compounds have been identified to modulate autophagy, showing efficacy against 15 cancer types.
- Key pathways affected include PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AMPK, and Beclin-1, leading to notable anticancer effects.
- G. lucidum extracts reduced colorectal tumor growth by up to 60% in vivo.
- Cordycepin induced autophagic cell death in lung cancer cells with IC50 values as low as 25 μmol/L.
- Mushrooms offer advantages like low toxicity, immune modulation, and antioxidant activity.
- Challenges include context-dependent autophagy effects and limited clinical evidence.
- Future research should focus on standardized extracts and personalized approaches for clinical translation.