From:  Patent review: existing, new, and potential pharmacological agents from mushrooms

 Selected research on mushrooms with anticancer activity.

ReferenceName of mushroomBioactiveTypes of cancer
(claimed)
Biological role
[14]Morchella esculenta-Cancer*Inhibits tumor
[15]Auricularia polytricha-Colon cancerDecreases proliferation, expression of cancer cells
[16]Ganoderma lucidum
β-Glucan polysaccharides; triterpenoidsBreast cancerDownregulates estrogen-α-receptors, NF-κB pathway, cellular migration, VEGF pathway, inhibits MMP-9, promotes anti-angiogenic effect, apoptosis in cancer cells
[17]Ganoderma lucidum5,6-Dehydroergosterol
Ergosterol peroxide
Breast cancerDecreases cancer cell viability, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, reduces cell migration, invasion, and key signaling pathways in cancer cells
[18]Ganoderma lucidum-Breast cancerSynergistic combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
[19]Multiple species1-Breast cancerSynergistic combination with cannabinoids, cytotoxic activity
[20]Multiple species2-Cancers#Synergistic combination with cannabinoids induces apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibits the VEGF pathway, migration, adhesion, or invasion of cancer cells, prevents angiogenesis of cancer cells, disrupts cancer cell growth, and restores normal cell cycle in cancer cells
[21]Multiple species3-Pancreatic cancerSynergistic combination with THC, decreases IL-6 secretion, immune-stimulator
[22]Pellinus linteusHispidinePancreatic cancer
A synergistic combination with gemcitabine, gefintip, cisplatin, paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, and 5-FU inhibits the growth of cancer cells
[23]Phellinus igniarius-Lung cancerInhibits the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells
[24]Multiple species4-Cancers#Inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and increases the activity of T cells with no side effects
[25]Phellinus linteus, Cordyceps bassiana-Cancers#A synergistic combination with Lactobacillus plantarum strain inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and tumors, and reduces side effects
[26]Multiple species5Striatal C, Striatal C’, Striatal DCancers#NA
[27]Ganoderma microsporumImmunomodulatory proteinCancers#Induces a specific active immune response of the immune cells against the tumor cells, enhancing immunogenicity without toxicity
[28]Inonotus obliquusBetulinic acids I and IICancers#Inhibits cell viability and ATP levels of cancer cells
[29]Ganoderma lucidum-Liver cancerSynergistic combination with sorafenib inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cells
[30]Lentinula edodesBicyclic pyrrole aldehyde
[3-ethyl-4-oxo-2,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta(c)pyrrole-1-carbaldehyde]
Liver cancerInhibits the proliferation of liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells
[31]Pleurotus ostreatus
Polysaccharide selenoside-II (heteropolysaccharide compound II modified with organic selenium)Lung cancerInhibits the growth of non-small lung adenocarcinoma cells
[32]Polysaccharide selenoside-III (heteropolysaccharide compound III modified with organic selenium)Liver cancerApoptosis of HepG2 cells without damaging normal hepatocytes
[33]Colon cancerApoptosis of HCT116 cells without damaging the normal colon cell line
[34]Breast cancerApoptosis of MCF-7 cells without damage to normal breast cells
[35]Gastric cancerApoptosis of MGC803 cells without damage to normal cells
[36]Prostate cancerApoptosis of PC-3 cells without damage to normal cells
[37]Phellinus igniarius-CancerInhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer A549 cells

*: Cancer type is not specifically claimed; #: includes one or more from the list of cancers: lung, breast, brain, oral, esophageal, stomach, gastric, glioma, colon, liver, cervical, bladder, uterine, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, cutaneous, ovarian, gallbladder, biliary tract, thyroid, laryngeal, acute myeloid leukemia, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, melanoma, etc. 1: A. bisporus, G. lucidum, G. frondosa, L. edodes, T. versicolor; 2: A. blazei, A. confluens, A. camphorate, B. badius, C. maxima, C. militaris, C. sinensis, C. liangshanensis, C. gunnii, C. cicadicola, F. velutipes, F. fomentarius, F. trogii, G. lucidum, G. fondosa, H. erinaceus, I. umbrinella, I. olbiquus, L. flavidulus, L. edodes, P. linteus, P. ostreatus, S. commune, S. placidus, or T. versicolor; 3: G. lucidum, C. sinensis, G. frondosa, T. versicolor, C. versicolor, I. obliquus, L. edodes, A. blazei; 4: C. comatus, L. edodes, G. lucidum, P. ostreatus; 5: Cyathus striatus, L. edodes, Coprinus spp., Tremella spp. IL-6: interleukin-6; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; THC: tetrahydrocannabinol; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; ATP: adenosine triphosphate.