OXIDATIVE STRESS RELIEF FOR CANCER-BEARING HOSTS BY THE PROTEIN-BOUNDPOLYSACCHARIDE OF CORIOLUS-VERSICOLOR QUEL AND SOD MIMICKING ACTIVITY

The protein-bound polysaccharide of Coriolus versicolor QUEL (PS-K) ex presses the mimetic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Human canc er patients usually suffer from oxidative stress (OS). Examination was made to determine the capacity of this drug with SOD mimetic activity for relieving OS. Rats transplanted with Walker 256 fibrosarcoma show ed OS on day 12. After confirming high levels of OS on day 13, PS-K 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally administered, and prompt decrease in O2-r elease from RBC was noted. The drug ceased to have any effect 24 hours following the first inoculation. Average OS in human cancer patients was found twice that in healthy persons. In human cancer patients pero rally administered PS-K 3.0 g/day, OS decreased to the normal level on e day after the initial administration. Plasma lipid peroxide (LPO) in cancer patients treated with PS-K for 28 days increased and withdrawa l of the drug led to decreased LPO.