Summary
The potential of natural substances with immunotherapeutic properties has long been studied. β-glucans, a cell wall component of certain bacteria and fungi, potentiate the immune system against microbes and toxic substances. Moreover, β-glucans are known to exhibit direct anticancer effects and can suppress cancer proliferation through immunomodulatory pathways. Mortality of lung cancer has been alarmingly increasingly worldwide; therefore, treatment of lung cancer is an urgent necessity. Numerous researchers are now dedicated to using β-glucans as a therapy for lung cancer. In the present attempt, we have reviewed the studies addressing therapeutic effects of β-glucans in primary and metastatic lung cancer published in the time period of 1991–2016.
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Raheleh Roudi declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Shahla Roudbar Mohammadi declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Maryam Roudbary declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Monireh Mohsenzadegan declares that she has no conflict of interest.
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Roudi, R., Mohammadi, S.R., Roudbary, M. et al. Lung cancer and β-glucans: review of potential therapeutic applications. Invest New Drugs 35, 509–517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-017-0449-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-017-0449-9