Mushroom used in Asia for the treatment was found 100 percent effective in reducing the progression of prostate tumors in mice during the initial trial. As reported by Science Daily, the discovery was based on research at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The compound, polysaccharopeptide (PSP), which is distilled from the turkey tail fungus, was found to target the prostate stem cells and reduces tumor formation in mice. The findings were based on articles written by senior researcher Dr. Patrick Ling in the online journal PLoS ONE, published by the Public Library of Science. Dr Ling, of the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland and the Institute for Health & Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) at QUT, said the result could be an important step toward combating a disease that kills 3000 Australian men each year.
"The discovery was quite significant," said Dr. Ling. "What we want to show whether compounds that could halt prostate tumors in the first place. In the past, other inhibitors are tested in research trials have demonstrated effective up to 70 percent, but we see 100 percent of these tumors are prevented in developing PSP. Important, we do not see any side effects from this treatment. "
Dr Ling said the usual treatment is only effective in attacking specific cancer cells, not cancer stem cells, which trigger cancer and cause disease progression. During the research trial, conducted in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong and Provital Pty Ltd, transgenic mice that develop prostate tumors were fed subs PSP 20 weeks, also did not reveal any tumors in rats fed the PSP, while mice not given the PSP developed prostate tumors. He said the research showed that treatment of the PSP can actually inhibit tumor formation. "Our findings support that the PSP could be potentially as an element of prevention against prostate cancer, possibly through the targeting of prostate cancer stem cell population," he said.
He said the PSP had previously shown to have sifatanti-cancer properties, and the turkey tail fungus (known as Coriolus versicolor or Yun-zhi) has been widely used in Asia for the treatment. However, Dr Ling said the first time the PSP was shown to have the effect of anti-cancer stem cells. Although the turkey tail mushroom has properties valued health, Dr Ling said it may benefit the same as that of his research indicated that only eat mushrooms.
Fundraising was organized in September to support the further testing of the potential in health science from the PSP against prostate tumors either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer compounds.
