Ganoderma lucidum is also called “lingzhi” in China, and it has been used in China for the promotion of health and longevity for centuries. Numerous pharmacological effects associated with lingzhi have been recorded, among which are immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidative, antiaging and antitumor properties. Studies have shown that Ganoderma lucidum contains a wide range of bioactive compounds associated with the promotion of good health.

For all these reasons, Ganoderma lucidum is widely used in alternative medicine and proven to have numerous implications for use as a potential anticancer drug; however, further research is required to prove if it is useful for personalized medicine, especially in treating specific tumor diseases such as prostate adenocarcinoma and other cancers.

The active components from Ganoderma lucidum consist of mainly polysaccharides and terpenoids, especially phenolic compounds. Many of these biological compounds work against the major diseases. There are many health effects, ranging from anti-cancer properties to relieving blockages of the bladder.

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom rich in bioactive compounds, including fatty acids (Ganoderma lucidum spore oil, also called reishi spore oil), nucleosides, amino acids, proteins, peptides, alkaloids, steroids, enzymes, triterpenoids and polysaccharides (Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, also called reishi spore powder). Among them, triterpenoids and polysaccharides represent the main constituents contributing to its anticancer functions.

Many Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides exert immune-modulating functions through activating the expression of cytokines associated with inflammatory response (such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) or anti-tumor activity (such as interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α). Even when some scientists indicate a direct cytotoxicity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on cancer cells, the anticancer functions of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides are still generally believed to be closely related with their immune-stimulating effects.

Growing clinical evidence exhibits the important role of pro-inflammatory cytokines during tumor development. Many cytokines were reported to act as pro-inflammatory factors both in melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer: as an example, recent studies have exhibited that several cytokines are produced by cancer cells, or by the tumor micro-environment, in order to increase their progression and survival. Specifically, the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the pathogenesis of melanoma and breast cancer was studied.

Increased IL-6 expression has been related to an advanced disease stage and decreased survival in breast and melanoma cancer patients. The release of IL-6 is biologically related to an induction of tumor cell proliferation and inhibition of cellular apoptosis through the involvement of Janus kinases and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Similarly, interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemokine with a defining CXC amino acid motif, is characterized by important tumorigenic and pro-angiogenic properties in both cancers and it is associated with poor prognosis.

In addition, IL-8 over-expression is involved in the proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis and sensitivity to chemotherapeutics in breast cancer, primarily via the activation of AKT and MAPK signaling which results in the increased activation of NF-κB. Melanoma and breast cancer cells are able to release several interleukins such as IL-8 and IL-6 under pro-inflammatory conditions. Our data show that Ganoderma lucidum extract exerts anticancer effects on cell migration and anti-inflammatory effects.

Overall, our data indicate that the Ganoderma lucidum extract could represent a new choice for anticancer treatment and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of a wide range of compounds which exert beneficial effects on health and potentiate the immune response.

These results suggest that the complex of bioactive compounds derived from Ganoderma lucidum extract, including Ganoderma lucidum spore oil and Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, can be beneficially exploited in anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapies against melanoma and breast cancer. Therefore, the use of Ganoderma lucidum extracts is a new therapeutic method in the treatment and management of melanoma and breast cancer, especially considering its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic actions in cancer management.