Health News: Hopes the humble mushroom could stop cancer recurring and stem cells could reverse lung damage

Health News: Hopes the humble mushroom could stop cancer recurring and stem cells could reverse lung damage

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:34 PM on 17th February 2009

In more health stories this week, experts test whether mushrooms could stop cancer coming back and hopes that a new stem cell therapy could reverse a deadly lung disease.


Experts believe mushroom extract acts in a similar way to breast cancer drugs

Button mushrooms are being tested as a treatment to stop breast and prostate cancers recurring.

Researchers believe that extract of the fungi may prevent or delay the development of further cancers.

Previous studies have shown that the extract acts in a similar way to antibreast cancer drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase is an enzyme that helps the body to make oestrogen, a hormone most breast tumours require to grow.

The mushroom extract also contains a natural compound known as conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which may help block the damage which leads to prostate cancer.

In two trials at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in California, prostate cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer survivors will take the extract twice a day for a month. If there has been no progression of the disease, they will continue with the treatment.

New hope for lung damage sufferers

A new stem cell therapy may reverse damage caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Researchers say the therapy, which is given intravenously, may also ease other symptoms of a disease estimated to affect more than one million people in the UK. The first of 60 patients have been enrolled in a clinical trial in America which is due to run until June.

A progressive and incurable condition, COPD causes breathing problems and results from permanent damage to the lungs from chronic bronchitis or emphysema (often as a result of smoking).

The therapy, Prochymal, is a preparation of stem cells obtained from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors. It's thought these cells work by reducing the inflammatory response. They have also been shown to migrate to sites of inflammation and tissue damage, where they may well trigger the repair process.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1147362/Health-News-Hopes-humble-mushroom-stop-cancer-recurring-stem-cells-reverse-lung-damage.html