New Research Highlights Chaga's Potential in Oral Cancer Treatment

Researchers from Dankook University, South Korea, have discovered that an extract from chaga mushrooms could possibly be used to combat oral cancer. While these findings are still preliminary, they offer a hopeful supplementary treatment option for those with the condition and highlight the overall anti-cancer potential of chaga.

Understanding oral cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, over 54,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year in the U.S. alone, with more than 11,000 deaths annually. The most common treatment options for oral cancer include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. While these treatments see success, especially during the early stages, they often come with significant side effects and health complications, including tissue damage, speech and swallowing difficulties, and a reduced quality of life. 

Why chaga?

Using chaga as an adjunct therapy could limit these effects and contribute to the overall effectiveness of treatment. Since chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds, they have attracted the interest of scientists as a potential cancer therapy. Previous studies have already determined that chaga mushrooms possess anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and anti-tumor properties, making them the perfect candidate for targeted cancer treatments (1).

Study findings

To determine chaga’s effect on oral cancer cells, the researchers prepared a concentrated chaga extract. This extract was tested in a series of experiments to analyze its impact on the cancer cells’ viability, proliferation, energy metabolism, and cell death mechanisms. Here’s what they found:

1. Reduced cancer cell growth

The chaga extract slowed down the growth of cancer cells and decreased their numbers. Higher doses were found to be more effective in inhibiting cancer cell growth.

2. Cell cycle arrest

The extract caused cancer cells to get stuck in the G0/G1 phase of their development. This effectively stopped the cancer’s progression by preventing the cells from advancing and multiplying.

3. Disruption of energy supply

 Cancer cells require a lot of energy to grow and use a process called glycolysis to break down glucose for energy. The extract suppressed glycolysis, thereby cutting off the main source of energy for cancer cells. It was also found to disrupt the mitochondrial function of cancer cells, further reducing how much energy is available to them.

4. Induced cell death

The lack of energy available to cancer cells causes them to die through processes called autophagy (self-digestion) and apoptosis (programmed cell death). The chaga extract increased the markers for these processes, indicating that it was effectively causing the cancer cells to die.

5. Identified bioactive compounds

The researchers also identified several bioactive compounds from the extract, including syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, and 2-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid. These compounds are known to have anti-cancer properties and may contribute to the mechanisms behind the extract (2).

Future implications

While the results of this study are promising, more research will be required to confirm the extract’s efficacy and determine the best ways to integrate it into current cancer treatment protocols. However,  if proven effective, these findings could lead to significant advancements in the treatment of oral cancer. 

References

1. Abugomaa, Amira, Mohamed Elbadawy, Yusuke Ishihara, Haru Yamamoto, Masahiro Kaneda, Hideyuki Yamawaki, Yuta Shinohara, Tatsuya Usui, and Kazuaki Sasaki. 2023. “Anti-Cancer Activity of Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus Obliquus) against Dog Bladder Cancer Organoids.” Frontiers in Pharmacology 14 (April). https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1159516.
2. Yeo, Donghyeon, Yeo Gyun Yun, Seong-Jin Shin, Khandmaa Dashnyam, Anand Khurelbaatar, Jun Hee Lee, and Hae-Won Kim. 2024. “Chaga Mushroom Extract Suppresses Oral Cancer Cell Growth via Inhibition of Energy Metabolism.” Scientific Reports 14 (1): 10616. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61125-z.