Continuous AHCC® ingestion suppresses spontaneous carcinogenesis in a murine model

AHCC®, a standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, suppresses the proliferation of both cancer cell line-derived and patient-derived xenografts transplanted into mice. However, the mechanism of action underlying the suppressive effect of AHCC® on spontaneous carcinogenesis remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of long-term AHCC® ingestion on the health of mice and spontaneous carcinogenesis. The mice were divided into three groups: A (2% AHCC® ingestion continuously two days a week), B (2% AHCC® ingestion daily), and C (water ingestion). Mice began to ingest AHCC® or water at five weeks of age and were observed until 24 months of age. The onsets of the first death were delayed in the AHCC® ingestion groups and the survival rates were significantly higher than those in the control group. The proportion of “healthy mice” with no morphological abnormalities in their organs was also significantly higher in the AHCC® ingestion groups than that in the control group. Furthermore, the incidence of cancer-bearing mice, particularly breast cancer and liver cancer, was significantly reduced in the AHCC® ingestion groups. These results suggest that continuous AHCC® ingestion maintains health and prevents spontaneous carcinogenesis.

AHCC®是标准化制备的培养香菇（Lentinula edodes）菌丝体提取物，能够抑制移植至小鼠体内的癌细胞系来源异种移植瘤（cancer cell line-derived xenografts）与患者来源异种移植瘤（patient-derived xenografts）的增殖。然而，AHCC®对自发性癌变的抑制作用机制仍不明确。本研究探究了长期摄入AHCC®对小鼠健康及自发性癌变的影响。实验将小鼠分为三组：A组（每周连续2天摄入2% AHCC®）、B组（每日摄入2% AHCC®）及C组（仅饮水的对照组）。小鼠于5周龄时开始摄入AHCC®或饮用水，持续观察至24月龄。结果显示，AHCC®摄入组的首次死亡发生时间较对照组延迟，生存率显著高于对照组；器官无形态学异常的"健康小鼠"占比同样显著高于对照组。此外，AHCC®摄入组的荷瘤小鼠总发生率显著降低，其中乳腺癌与肝癌的发生率下降尤为显著。上述结果表明，持续摄入AHCC®可维持小鼠健康并预防自发性癌变。