The effect of Cordyceps extract and a mixture of Ganoderma lucidum/Agaricus Blazi Murill extract on human endometrial cancer cell lines in vitro.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynaecological malignancy. Nevertheless there is a lack of curative therapies, especially for patients diagnosed with late stage, recurrent or aggressive disease, who have a poor prognosis. Cordyceps Sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum and Agaricus Blazi Murill are three fungi widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, and effects as adjuvants in tumour therapy have been demonstrated. However, the function and effects of these fungi in regard to endometrial cancer are not known. Three endometrial cancer cell lines, Ishikawa, Hec-1A and AN3-CA (derived from endometrial cancers grade I, II and III, respectively), were used to determine the effect of the fungi extracts on endometrial cancer cell function and to analyze the molecular mechanism. All fungi extracts had an inhibitory effect on cell viability and proliferation most probably exerted through induction of autophagy. Our data suggest that these fungi extracts may be used as adjuvants in endometrial tumour therapy.