Ganoderma triterpenoid Ganoderic acid T inhibits growth and metastasis of A549 lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Journal of the Chinese Oncology Society

Objectives: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases with a dismal progno- sis; the high mortality rate has made it one of the leading causes of cancer-related death over the past years. As Lingzhi has long been reputed as anticancer medicinal mushroom in folk medicine and it is known that triterpenoids are the anticancer ingredients of the medicinal mushroom, we are interested in investigating the anti-cancer efficacy of ganoderma triterpe- noids. Methods: Anti-proliferation activity of ganoderic acid T (GAT) was studied in human lung ad- enocarcinoma cell lines A549, PC9, PC9-IR, H1650 and H1975 in cell culture. In vivo anti- cancer efficacy of GAT was assessed in SCID mice implanted subcutaneously with A549 can- cer cells. Results: GAT displayed cytotoxicity on the lung cancer cell lines and exerted no effect on sur- vival of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in cell culture system. In A549 tu- mor xenograft SCID mouse model, GAT inhibited growth and metastasis of the tumors. Conclusions: GAT is a potential anti-cancer agent or therapeutic drug adjuvant for lung adeno- carcinoma. The anticancer activity of triterpenoids from Lingzhi is confirmed.