By Amber Roman
Nov 23, 2024, 09:00 AM EST
City of Hope, one of the most prestigious institutions in cancer research and treatment in the United States, has revealed promising advances in the use of food as therapeutic tools. Through a phase 2 clinical trial, researchers have identified that a white button mushroom-based supplement could have the ability to slow and even prevent the spread of prostate cancer. This finding, supported by preclinical studies and preliminary human data, opens new doors to integrative oncology, an approach that combines traditional treatments with therapies based on foods and natural extracts.
The study highlighted the ability of white button mushroom to reduce levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a type of immune cells associated with cancer progression. According to Shiuan Chen, Ph.D., director of the Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine at City of Hope’s Beckman Research Institute, this approach could eventually be established as part of standard cancer treatment. “We are exploring the medicinal potential of foods such as white button mushroom, grape seed extract and berries such as Jamun, with results supporting their possible role in cancer prevention and treatment,” Chen said.
The “food as medicine” approach is part of a growing trend toward integrative oncology. This field seeks to improve the quality of life of patients by combining conventional therapies with natural alternatives. The relevance of this approach has driven the development of the Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology, funded with a $100 million donation from Panda Express co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng. This center promotes research, education and clinical care in integrative oncology, ensuring access to safe, evidence-based therapies for patients.
In animal models, researchers showed that white button mushroom extract not only slowed tumor growth, but also improved the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. Mice treated with this supplement showed greater survival and a more robust response of T cells, key cells in antitumor immunity. In humans, initial results were also encouraging. When analyzing blood samples from clinical trial participants, researchers observed an increase in T cells and natural killer cells, along with a decrease in MDSC, suggesting a reactivation of the immune system against cancer.
Xiaoqiang Wang, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s lead scientist, stressed the importance of proceeding cautiously with supplement use. Although the preliminary results are encouraging, Wang warned about the risk of self-medication with unregulated products. “Our study highlights the need to seek medical advice before consuming white button mushroom supplements. While consuming fresh mushrooms as part of a balanced diet may be beneficial, there is no guarantee that the products available online are safe or effective,” Wang said.
City of Hope is distinguished by its collaborative model between laboratory researchers and clinicians, allowing scientific discoveries to be quickly translated into clinical applications. This approach also makes it easier for observations in patients to feed back into research, optimizing the development of cancer treatments.
Interest in foods as therapeutic agents goes beyond the white button mushroom. City of Hope is researching a variety of natural compounds, including fruit and seed extracts, to evaluate their potential in cancer prevention and treatment. Although this research is still in the early stages, the results so far reinforce the idea that food can play a crucial role in the medicine of the future.
The ongoing study continues to examine the impact of white mushroom on a broader population of prostate cancer patients. The researchers hope that future data will confirm the preliminary results and offer more evidence about how this food can be integrated into a comprehensive approach to cancer. With increasing acceptance of integrative oncology, the vision of a treatment based on food and traditional therapies seems increasingly achievable.