MGN-3/Biobran is a
denatured hemicellulose obtained by reacting rice bran hemicellulose with
multiple carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes from Shiitake mushrooms. Over the
last 24 years, our fundamental research objective has been to study the
biotherapeutic activity of MGN-3 as a treatment for cancer based on its ability
to activate the immune system. This objective has been pursued in
vitro, and in animal and human studies. This review is focused on the
immunomodulatory effects of MGN-3 and on its potential as an anticancer agent.
In vitro studies showed that culturing different human and murine cancer cell
lines with MGN-3 resulted in a reduction of the survival rate of cancer cells.
In vivo studies have also shown that MGN-3 induces tumor regression in several
models of animal bearing tumor, including gastric cancer, neuroblastoma, and
Ehrlich carcinoma. In addition, the anti-cancer activity of MGN-3 has been
shown in human clinical trials and in several case reports on patients with
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and progressive and partially metastasized
cancer. Patients that were treated with MGN-3 in addition to Conventional
Therapy (CT), as compared with CT alone, showed: 1) less recurrence of cancer,
2) higher survival rate and 3) improved Quality of Life (QOL) as characterized
by improvements in physical activity, appetite, sleep, and digestion, and a
decrease in pain and anxiety.
This review
summarizes the preclinical and clinical research on MGN-3/ Biobran since it was
first patented in 1992. Various animal studies and human clinical trials
including different types of malignancies have demonstrated that MGN-3 is a
potent Biological Response Modifier (BRM). MGN-3 enhances the cytotoxic
reactivity of immune cells with anti-cancer activity such as NK and CD8+ T
cells via increasing cell granularity, stimulates the production of
interferons, IL-2 and IL-12, and functions as a natural adjuvant for Dendritic
Cells (DC). Therefore, MGN-3 may be used in DC-based vaccine strategies against
infections and cancer. Importantly, MGN-3 is a unique BRM because it is a safe
non-toxic agent and does not exhibit hyporesponsiveness. MGN- 3 has the potential
to be a novel and promising immune modulatory adjuvant that could complement
the existing immunotherapeutic modalities for cancer patients.
Despite the last decade
of advances in treatment options, cancer remains the second leading cause of
death in the United States. Unfortunately the outcome of standard cancer
treatments is often poor due to the emergence of Multidrug Resistance (MDR)
during the course of treatment. MDR cells are a significant factor in the
failure of chemotherapeutics as evidenced by high relapse rates for the
majority of patients. Therefore, to increase cancer survival and improve
symptom control, there is a strong need for new and better approaches to cancer
treatment. Today, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has acknowledged the
importance of immune therapy for the treatment of cancer. NCI, other health
organizations, and professionals in the field of oncology are currently working
to harness the immune system to fight cancer and to expand immunotherapy in
combination with other types of cancer treatment, such as targeted therapy,
chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
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