On this page, I have listed a non-exhaustive selection of studies regarding the effects of PMA Zeolite (in Romania, the only PMA Zeolite is Zeolit Spectrum) and AHCC.

1. Zeolite and anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo

Title: Natural zeolite clinoptilolite: new adjuvant in anticancer therapy
Authors: Pavelić K et al.
Published in: Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2001

Summary:
Micronized clinoptilolite showed significant anticancer effects in cell cultures and animal models (mice). It reduced metastasis development and had an immunomodulatory role. The authors concluded that zeolite could be used as an adjuvant in oncological therapies.

2. PMA Zeolite and the immune system in oncology

Title: PMA-zeolite treatment is safe and could act as a modulator of the immune system in cancer patients
Authors: Kraljević Pavelić S. et al.
Published in: Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2018

Summary:
This pilot clinical study evaluated PMA Zeolite (thermally and mechanically activated zeolite) in oncology patients. It showed good safety, with no significant adverse reactions and indications of a possible immune system modulation.

3. PMA Zeolite and chemotherapy

Title: PMA-Zeolite: Chemistry and Diverse Medical Applications 
Authors: Alexandra Bulog. et al.
Published in: Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2018

Summary: Recently, PMA Zeolite has been tested in various clinical applications and has shown potential as an adjuvant therapy in inflammatory conditions, osteoporosis, as well as during tumor chemotherapy.

4. Effect of AHCC on chemotherapy adverse events in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

• Title: Alleviating Effect of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) on Chemotherapy-Related Adverse Events in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
• Authors: Yanagimoto H. et al.
• Published in: Nutrition and Cancer, 2016

Summary: The study evaluated the effects of AHCC on adverse events induced by gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The results showed that AHCC may significantly reduce hematologic and non-hematologic adverse events, contributing to maintaining patients' quality of life during treatment.

5. Effect of AHCC on chemotherapy adverse events in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

• Title: Prognostic improvement of patients with advanced liver cancer after active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) treatment
• Authors: Hashimoto D. et al.
• Published in: Trials, 2022

Summary: This phase II, double-blind, randomized study aims to evaluate the impact of AHCC on survival in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic ductal cancer. Patients will receive AHCC or placebo starting from the first day of neoadjuvant therapy and continuing up to two years after surgery. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival at two years.

6. Effect of AHCC in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

• Title: Effect of active hexose-correlated compound in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a retrospective study
• Authors: Hangai S. et al.
• Published in: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2013

Summary: The retrospective study analyzed the effects of AHCC on adverse events in women who received adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. The results indicated that AHCC may significantly reduce the incidence of neutropenia and the need for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor use, suggesting a potential benefit in alleviating the side effects of chemotherapy.

7. Adjuvant Effects of AHCC in Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy (Mouse Studies)

• Title: AHCC^®, a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula Edodes Mycelia, Promotes the Anti-Tumor Effect of Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade Effect in Murine Colon Cancer
• Authors: Hong Jai-Park et al.
• Published in: Frontiers, 2022

Summary: The study highlights that oral administration of AHCC together with dual CTLA-4/PD-1 blockade treatment (as with nivolumab/ipilimumab) in mice with colon tumors (MC38) has:

• significantly reduced tumor volume,
• increased the expression of activation and cytotoxicity markers (granzyme B, Ki-67) in CD8+ T cells within the tumor,
• favorably modified the gut microbiome, associated with better immune responses

8. The ameliorating effect of AHCC on adverse effects induced by anticancer drugs in tumor-free mice

This study explored the role of AHCC in reducing side effects induced by other anticancer drugs in tumor-free mice treated either with paclitaxel (TAX) as monotherapy or with combined chemotherapy regimens: TAX + CDDP, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) + irinotecan, CDDP + 5FU, or doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide.

The results of the drug-treated groups, with and without AHCC supplementation, were compared to the control group that received only the vehicle. Combined treatments significantly reduced bone marrow cell viability in all groups and the number of leukocytes (except for the TAX + CDDP group); these myelosuppressive effects were generally improved by AHCC. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by treatments including TAX and CDDP were also significantly reduced by AHCC.

The mortality rate was between 20 and 30% in all treated groups, except for the TAX + CDDP group, and supplementation with AHCC significantly reduced or even eliminated mortality.

These results support the idea that AHCC may be beneficial for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments.