The most important target in
pharmaceutical therapy against
cancer is complete suppression of
metastases and recurrence after curative surgical operation. It is fundamentally, a growth inhibition and regression of small number of autochthonous
tumors scattering in the host, and coexistence between
tumor and host is also important. As immunosuppressive anticancer drugs have detrimental effects for patients in such cases, application of strong
immunopotentiators such as
lentinan should be expected.
Lentinan showed a prominent effect on suppression of
metastases in experimental systems of clinical models using MH-134
hepatoma, Madison-109 lung
carcinoma and DBA/2.MC.CS-1
fibrosarcoma. Suppression of
carcinogenesis may be considered as one of experimental methods to prevent
metastases in a viewpoint of regression of small number of autochthonous
tumor cells.
Lentinan given at suitable timing and schedule showed marked prophylactic effect on chemical and viral
carcinogenesis. Mode of action of
lentinan as T-oriented adjuvant in its antitumor and
metastases-inhibitory effects is also discussed. Considering excellent end-point results of Phase III with advanced and recurrent
gastrointestinal cancer,
lentinan is the most hopeful substance to prevent
micrometastases.