NK-Immunomodulation by Active Hemicellulose Compound
(AHCC) in 17 Cancer Patients
Mamdooh Ghoneum, Ph.D.
Drew University of Medicine and Science, Department of Otolaryngology,
Head and Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, Calif. USA, 2nd
Meeting of the Society for Natural Immunity. Taormina, Italy May
1994
The present study was designed to examine the immunomodulatory
function of active hemicellulose compound (AHCC). AHCC is an extract
of Mycellia basidiomycota which was originated by hybridization
of several types of mushrooms. Seventeen cancer patients with
different advanced malignancies participated in the study: ovarian
carcinoma (3), multiple myeloma (2), stomach (2), breast (5),
lung (2), rhabdomyosarcoma (1), and prostate (2). Patients received
AHCC 3 g/day orally for 2-6 months. NK cell activity was examined
by 4-hour Cr release assay against sensitive K562 and resistant
Raji tumor cells. Results showed significant enhancement of NK
activity against K562 as early as 2 weeks (2-to 3-fold of base-line).
Activity was further increased at subsequent time periods up to
6 months posttreatment with AHCC. NK activation was also detected
against Raji cells) but at later stages, i.e. 1-2 months (2- to
10-fold). AHCC appears to activate NK cells by increasing their
binding capacity to tumor cell targets (2-fold), and also by increasing
NK cell granularity as examined microscopically, in cytospin preparation,
and biochemically. On the other hand, flow cytometry analysis
showed no significant change in the percentage of NK cells (CD3-,
CD16+/CD56+). We conclude that AHCC is a potent immunomodulator
and may be useful in immunotherapy of cancer.
