AHCC Research Association
Gaining the attention of researchers worldwide, the AHCC Research Association was founded in 1986 to promote further study. Each year since 1994, over 350 medical doctors and researchers have gathered in Sapporo, Japan for the AHCC Research Association symposiums.
Various clinical trials conducted since 1987 in Japan have demonstrated that AHCC® has the ability to support normal immune function and may improve number and functions of immune system cells.*AHCC has been the subject of numerous clinical studies conducted at prestigious institutions such as Hokkaido University, Kyorin University, and Teikyo University in Japan, and in the United States, Yale University, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
AHCC Research Association website: http://www.ahccresearch.com/
AHCC Published Research website: http://www.ahccpublishedresearch.com/
Immunotherapy with Active Hemicellulose Compound (AHCC)
Immunotherapy with Active Hemicellulose Compound (AHCC) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
S Takai, Y Kamiyama, Y. Matsui, H. Inut, S. Satoi, A, Imarmura, K, Nakamura, H. Nakamoto, S. Uetsuji, First Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University and T. Kanazawa, B. Sun, Anino Up Chemical Co., LTD. Sapporro, Osaka, Japan.
Introduction
S Takai, Y Kamiyama, Y. Matsui, H. Inut, S. Satoi, A, Imarmura, K, Nakamura, H. Nakamoto, S. Uetsuji, First Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University and T. Kanazawa, B. Sun, Anino Up Chemical Co., LTD. Sapporro, Osaka, Japan.
Introduction Many attempts have been made to stimulate the immune system for cancer treatment. Several biological response modifiers ( BRMs) such as BCG, Picibanil, PSK, Interferon and Interleukin-2, have been developed and used in patients. Active hemicellulose compound (AHCC), a BRM newly developed in Japan, is an extract obtained from several kinds of mushrooms ( Basidiomyceles) which are cultured in a liquid medium. It contains an activated oligosaccharide (average molecular weight about 5000 kD) which boosts the immune system. In this study, we started to evaluate the clinical effect of AHCC in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.
Methods
One hundred and ten patients with histologically proven HCC were included in this study. They underwent macroscopically curative resection of the liver. In 27 patients, the AHCC (3 g/day) was given orally after surgery (group A). The other 83 patients served as control (group B). The non-recurrent rates and survival rates of the two groups were compared. The biochemical parameters (the counts of red blood cells, white blood cells and lymphocytes, ALT, ChE, total protein, albumin and a-fetoprotein etc.) were estimated periodically.
Results
There were no significant differences in distribution of age, sex, stage and blood loss during surgery between the two groups. The survival rates in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (100% vs. 83.8% at one year and 100% vs. 73.8% at two years after surgery respectively). The disease-free survival rates in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (93.8% vs. 61.5% at one year and 93.8% vs. 47% at two years after surgery, respectively). Although white blood cell count did not change remarkably in group A, lymphocyte count significantly increased at 6 months, the red blood cell count also increased, and there was a significant increase in ChE at 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Conclusions
This retrospective study suggests that postoperative AHCC intake has beneficial effects in HCC patients. Further detailed studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of AHCC effect.
Methods
One hundred and ten patients with histologically proven HCC were included in this study. They underwent macroscopically curative resection of the liver. In 27 patients, the AHCC (3 g/day) was given orally after surgery (group A). The other 83 patients served as control (group B). The non-recurrent rates and survival rates of the two groups were compared. The biochemical parameters (the counts of red blood cells, white blood cells and lymphocytes, ALT, ChE, total protein, albumin and a-fetoprotein etc.) were estimated periodically.
Results
There were no significant differences in distribution of age, sex, stage and blood loss during surgery between the two groups. The survival rates in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (100% vs. 83.8% at one year and 100% vs. 73.8% at two years after surgery respectively). The disease-free survival rates in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (93.8% vs. 61.5% at one year and 93.8% vs. 47% at two years after surgery, respectively). Although white blood cell count did not change remarkably in group A, lymphocyte count significantly increased at 6 months, the red blood cell count also increased, and there was a significant increase in ChE at 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Conclusions
This retrospective study suggests that postoperative AHCC intake has beneficial effects in HCC patients. Further detailed studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of AHCC effect.
ABSTRACTS and ARTICLES
The results of medical research are usually revealed to the public and to other medical professionals in articles written for medical journals, or in papers presented at medical conferences by the doctors who conducted the research. Abstracts are summaries of the articles and papers. The following abstracts are representative of the many articles and papers written about the effects of AHCC. Preventive Effect of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) on the Recurrence of Postoperative Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients H. Kitade, Y. Matsui, S. Takai, A. Imamura, Y. Kawaguchi, Y. Kamiyama, B. Sun, K. Kosuna Osaka/Sapporo, Japan
Many attempts have been made to stimulate the immune system for cancer treatment. Although several biological response modifiers have been developed such as BCG. Picibanil. PSK, interferon and interIeukin-2, the clinical efficacy of the substances has not been clearly elucidated. Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is a newly developed biological response modifier. It is an extract of Basidiomycetes which is obtained by hybridization or several types of mushrooms. This study was initiated to evaluate the preventive effect of AHCC on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgical treatment.
In this study, 121 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma were included. All of the patients underwent macroscopically curative resection of a 1iver tumor. In 38 patients, AHCC (3-6g/day) was administered orally after surgery (group A) and 18 patients began to take AHCC after recurrences were verified (group B). The other 65 patients served as controls (group C). The longest follow up periods were 39, 65 and 56 months for groups A, B and C respectively.
There were no significant differences between the three groups in the distribution of age, gender, clinical stage, hepatitis type B and/or C viral infection, amount of bleeding during surgery and resection volumes of the liver. The survival rate in group A was significantly higher than that in group C. The disease-free survival rate in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C. One year after surgery, the serum levels of tumor markers (a.fetoprotein and PIVKA II) in group A were significantly lower than those in groups Band C.
This retrospective study suggests that AHCC intake has a preventive effect in postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Further detailed studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of the effect of AHCC.
In this study, 121 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma were included. All of the patients underwent macroscopically curative resection of a 1iver tumor. In 38 patients, AHCC (3-6g/day) was administered orally after surgery (group A) and 18 patients began to take AHCC after recurrences were verified (group B). The other 65 patients served as controls (group C). The longest follow up periods were 39, 65 and 56 months for groups A, B and C respectively.
There were no significant differences between the three groups in the distribution of age, gender, clinical stage, hepatitis type B and/or C viral infection, amount of bleeding during surgery and resection volumes of the liver. The survival rate in group A was significantly higher than that in group C. The disease-free survival rate in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C. One year after surgery, the serum levels of tumor markers (a.fetoprotein and PIVKA II) in group A were significantly lower than those in groups Band C.
This retrospective study suggests that AHCC intake has a preventive effect in postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Further detailed studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of the effect of AHCC.
Dr. Tanno
Dr. Tanno is one of many doctors in Japan who use AHCC in treating their patients. He is a medical doctor, but also has great interest in alternative healthcare when treating disease.
Dr. Tanno's Website is only available in Japanese, but some useful information concerning AHCC has now been translated into English. Please click here for this informaiton. Included are case studies from Dr. Tanno's Japanese patient files as well as his personal comments concerning AHCC and the treatment of various adult-onset diseases.
AHCC Case Studies
Case studies are compiled by doctors as they observe the effects of treatments on patients. Doctors and other medical personnel carefully keep detailed records of every patient under their care. These records help them identify changes in a patient's health over time, diagnose the causes, and prescribe treatment. The records are valuable in determining if a particular treatment helped cure the patient. Case studies summarize the records and results of particular treatments. The following case studies are examples of a few of those compiled when AHCC was used as part of a treatment plan for various diseases.
AHCC Case Studies - Metastatic Breast Cancer
48 year old Female with Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Joel S. Edman, D.Sc. and Dr. Fred Pescatore, M.D.
48 year old Female with Metastatic Breast Cancer M.K. presented 12/96 for treatment of breast adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated. Her original diagnosis was made in 1990 when she had a lumpectomy. An evaluation of hip pain in 1996 showed bilateral breast masses, positive bilateral axillary lymph nodes, and metastases of the sternum, ilia and sacrum. After a bilateral masectomy, an aggressive alternative medical therapy was begun (all standard treatments were refused). After various alternative protocols, the patient stabilized regarding metastases, pain control, and immune function, although she reported that she was not feeling well.
M.K. had AHCC added to her treatment protocol 2/99 - 6 gms per day in divided doses. After 10 weeks on AHCC she showed a significant improvement in reported well-being as well as improved immunological parameters. These improved results (measured 4/16/99 compared with 1/28/99) included: (a) Total WBC 3.6 vs. 2.8 Th/mm3; (b) Helper-Inducer T-cells (CD4) 275 vs. 232; (c) Total lymphocytes 810 vs. 742; (d) Total T lymphocytes 492 vs. 460; (e) B lymphocytes 124 vs. 68; and (f) Helper/Suppressor ration 1.3 vs. 1.1.
M.K. had AHCC added to her treatment protocol 2/99 - 6 gms per day in divided doses. After 10 weeks on AHCC she showed a significant improvement in reported well-being as well as improved immunological parameters. These improved results (measured 4/16/99 compared with 1/28/99) included: (a) Total WBC 3.6 vs. 2.8 Th/mm3; (b) Helper-Inducer T-cells (CD4) 275 vs. 232; (c) Total lymphocytes 810 vs. 742; (d) Total T lymphocytes 492 vs. 460; (e) B lymphocytes 124 vs. 68; and (f) Helper/Suppressor ration 1.3 vs. 1.1.
- Joel S. Edman, D.Sc. and Dr. Fred Pescatore, M.D.
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