The influence of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) on cisplatin-evoked chemotherapeutic and side effects in tumor-bearing mice

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2007 Jul 15;222(2):152-8. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2007.03.031. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (II) or CDDP) (a widely used platinum-containing anticancer drug) is nephrotoxic and has a low percentage of tolerance in patients during chemotherapy. The active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) is an extract of Basidiomycotina marketed as a supplement for cancer patients due to its nutrients and fibre content and its ability to strengthen and optimize the capacity of the immune system. The possibility that AHCC could reduce the side effects of cisplatin was assessed in the tumor-bearing BALB/cA mice on the basis of the ability to ameliorate the cisplatin-induced body weight loss, anorexia, nephrotoxicity and hematopoietic toxicity. Although cisplatin (8 mg/kg body weight) reduced the size and weight of the solid tumors, supplementation with AHCC significantly enhanced cisplatin-induced antitumor effect in both the size (p<0.05) and weight (p<0.05). Food intake in the cisplatin-treated mice were decreased following commencement of treatment and this remained low compared with the cisplatin-untreated group (control) throughout the experiment period. Supplementation with AHCC increased the food intake in the cisplatin-treated mice. The blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine concentrations, and the ratio of blood urea nitrogen to serum creatinine were significantly increased in the cisplatin alone treated group compared to the control group. Their increased levels were mitigated by supplementation with AHCC (100 mg/kg body weight) in the cisplatin-treated group. AHCC was also able to modulate the suppression of bone marrow due to cisplatin and the improvement was statistically significant. The histopathological examination of the kidney revealed the presence of cisplatin-induced damage and this was modulated by AHCC treatment. The potential for AHCC to ameliorate the cisplatin-evoked toxicity as well as the chemotherapeutic effect could have beneficial economic implications for patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / chemically induced
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use*
  • Cisplatin / toxicity
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Synergism
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Female
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Diseases / chemically induced
  • Kidney Diseases / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Polysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polysaccharides
  • Creatinine
  • Cisplatin
  • Active Hexose Correlated Compound