The Combination of AHCC and ETAS Decreases Migration of Colorectal Cancer Cells, and Reduces the Expression of LGR5 and Notch1 Genes in Cancer Stem Cells: A Novel Potential Approach for Integrative Medicine

The AHCC standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, and the standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem, trademarked as ETAS, are well known supplements with immunomodulatory and anticancer potential. Several reports have described their therapeutic effects, including antioxidant and anticancer activity and improvement of immune response. In this study we aimed at investigating the effects of a combination of AHCC and ETAS on colorectal cancer cells and biopsies from healthy donors to assess the possible use in patients with colorectal cancer. Our results showed that the combination of AHCC and ETAS was synergistic in inducing a significant decrease in cancer cell growth, compared with single agents. Moreover, the combined treatment induced a significant increase in apoptosis, sparing colonocytes from healthy donors, and was able to induce a strong reduction in migration potential, accompanied by a significant modulation of proteins involved in invasiveness. Finally, combined treatment was able to significantly downregulate LGR5 and Notch1 in SW620 cancer stem cell (CSC) colonospheres. Overall, these findings support the potential therapeutic benefits of the AHCC and ETAS combinatorial treatment for patients with colorectal cancer.