Effect of Beta Glucan on White Blood Cell Counts and Serum Levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in the world. Beta glucan can be a hematopoietic and an immune modulator agent in cancer patients. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of beta glucan on white blood cell counts and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 30 women with breast carcinoma aged 28-65 years. The eligible participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n=15) or placebo (n=15) groups using a block randomization procedure with matching based on age, course of chemotherapy and menopause status. Patients in the intervention group received two 10-mg capsules of soluble 1-3, 1-6, D-beta glucan daily and the control group receiving placebo during 21 days, the interval between two courses of chemotherapy. White blood cells, neuthrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts as well as serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 were measured at baseline and at the end of the study as primary outcomes of the study. Results: In both groups white blood cell counts decreased after 21 days group. At the end of the study, the change in the serum level of IL-4 in the beta glucan group in comparison adjusting for baseline values and covariates (p=0.

Effect of β-glucan on serum level of IL-12, hs-CRP and clinical outcomes in Multiple trauma patients: a prospective randomized study

“…In a clinical trial comprising women with breast cancer, 21 days of administration of oral β-glucan significantly increased the serum levels of IL-12. [28] CRP is a positive, acute-phase protein produced by hepatocytes in response to inflammatory conditions. CRP levels quickly increase in response to trauma, inflammation, and infection and decrease just as quickly as the body condition improves.…”

Defining trained immunity and its role in health and disease

“…Currently, BCG vaccination is a us Food and Drug administration-approved treatment modality for bladder cancer, and although not currently part of standard clinical care, it is also used for other treatment of malignancies such as lymphoma and melanoma. β-Glucan has long been used in east asia to boost immune responses in patients with cancer, and it is currently in clinical trials in the usa in combination with checkpoint inhibitors [180][181][182] . several alternative strategies to activate innate immunity and thereby trained immunity by injecting immunostimulatory agents into tumours are currently being developed together with checkpoint blockade, including activators of the NLrP3, stiNG, toll-like receptor and riG1 pathways.…”

Efficacy of biological response modifier lentinan with chemotherapy for advanced cancer: a meta‐analysis

“…reported similar results and found a longer duration of chemotherapy for patients taking lentinan, and guessed that less‐frequency adverse events may contribute to tolerance of chemotherapy and improvement of quality of life . One randomized trial focused on quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy using the Global health status/QoL score in 3 weeks reported positive results , whereas the included study by Yoshino et al. did not find any difference on changes in quality of life at posttreatment 4, 6, 10, and 12 weeks though a self‐administered and not obligatory scale .…”