Anti-cancer metabolites of basidiomycota and their molecular targets: review

The history and modern state of knowledge on use of basidiomycete substances in cancer therapy is presented. A molecular targets associated to basic aspects of cancer as proliferative hyperactivity, apoptosis avoidance, neovascularization, clonal heterogeneity were outlined. It was shown that various fungal metabolites can be invoked in successful pressure practically on full spectrum of cancer targets. The NKC-mediated cytotoxic activity of basidiomycete р-glucans was considered in details. Also the capacity of some basidiomycetes substances (as quinones, terpenes) to inhibition of proteinkinases, cdk, EGF, VEGF, NF-kB and metalloproteinases that leads to cancer cell cycle arrest, blockage of angiogenesis, keeping of apoptotic pathways and decreasing of invasive potential. The fungal producers of vital toxins are mentioned and the method for target toxin delivery is depictured. Some perspectives of medicinal mushrooms research are discussed. It was shown a necessity of comparative investigation of fungal disruptors of pro-liferative pathways in stem cancer cells, differentiated cancer cells and non-cancer proliferating cells with a view to optimization of techniques of cyclo-dependent therapy. The necessity of profiling of basidiomy-cetes on the ratio of immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory activities is substantiated. A new perspective medicinal species combining immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory activities are presented as Taiwanofungus camphoratus and Piptoporus betulinus. The tumor-preventive properties of basidio-mycetes are discussed.