Coriolus versicolor (PSK/PSP) for Cancer Adjunct Therapy
Verdict: Disputed
Across 4 PubMed studies, the evidence for Coriolus versicolor (PSK/PSP) in Cancer Adjunct Therapy grades Tier B — preliminary evidence. High-quality studies disagree — the evidence is genuinely mixed.
B 🟡 B Preliminary Evidence Disputed
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
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Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditableRaw score 0.63
D
C
B
A
S
← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →
Final grade
B · Disputed
Confidence
67%
Broadly consistent
Evidence level
E2
Multiple high-quality MAs (≥2 independent, consistent)
▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.625
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (4 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 1 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status
PubMed studies (4)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews
Efficacy of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curative resections of gastric cancer
Finding: PSK + chemo significantly improved OS vs chemo alone; HR 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.98; P=0.018), no significant heterogeneity across 8 RCTs.
View on PubMed Efficacy of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curatively resected colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of centrally randomized controlled clinical trials
Finding: PSK + chemo improved both OS and DFS: OS RR 0.71 (95% CI 0.55-0.90; P=0.006); DFS RR 0.72 (95% CI 0.58-0.90; P=0.003) across 3 centrally randomized RCTs.
View on PubMed Can polysaccharide K improve therapeutic efficacy and safety in gastrointestinal cancer? a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Finding: PSK + chemo significantly improved 1-5y OS and 1-7y DFS across 23 RCTs (n=10,684); PSK+IV chemo ranked best for 3y/5y OS. Safety: reduced nausea/vomiting (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.91) and leukopenia (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.83).
View on PubMed Coriolus Versicolor and Ganoderma Lucidum Related Natural Products as an Adjunct Therapy for Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Finding: Adjunct Coriolus/Ganoderma significantly lowered mortality (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94) and improved total efficacy (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.55) across 23 RCTs.
View on PubMed Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …
L4a US FDA
Cautious
Turkey tail are known to have anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects as well as immune modulating effects. ... The claims on your website establish that your products are drugs under section 201(g)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act because they were intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. source↗
L4b EU EFSA
Against
Commission Implementing Decision of 6 December 2021 (C(2021) 8744 final) terminating the procedure for authorising the placing on the market within the Union of the novel food 'Coriolus versicolor' without updating the Union list of novel foods pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. source↗
L5b Mayo Clinic
Cautious
Compounds found in turkey tail mushrooms can change how certain anticancer drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide, tamoxifen) are processed and removed from the body, which may alter the efficacy of the anti-cancer drug and cause more side effects. source↗
L5e Specialty Society (condition-mapped)
Neutral
Polysaccharide-K (PSK), a proprietary preparation of Trametes versicolor, has been used in Japan as an adjuvant cancer therapy for over 30 years and is recommended in some Japanese clinical practice guidelines for gastric and colorectal cancer. A 2006 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in curatively resected colorectal cancer (Oba et al., n=1,094 patients across 3 trials in original … source↗