Beta Glucan

Benefits of Beta Glucan for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Beta glucan, a natural polysaccharide, shows great potential in cancer therapy, especially pancreatic cancer. It shows great promise in pancreatic cancer treatment through its immunomodulatory properties.

Article Highlights

Beta Glucan and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer

What Is Beta Glucan?

Beta glucan is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and yeast.

Known for its immunomodulatory properties, it activates the immune system to fight against cancer cells.

How Does It Impact Pancreatic Cancer?

Beta glucan impacts pancreatic cancer primarily through immune system stimulation and reduction of tumor burden. (1)

  • Trained Immunity: Beta glucan trains pancreatic innate immune cells for antitumor responses. This trained immunity forms a novel approach to cancer therapy by providing a memory-like response in the immune system.

  • Tumor Burden Reduction: Combining beta glucan with irreversible electroporation (IRE) reduces both local and distant tumor burden. (2)

How Beta Glucan Supports Immune Modulation

Beta glucan shows significant potential in supporting immune modulation, particularly for conditions like pancreatic cancer. (3)

Its complex polysaccharide structure allows it to interact directly with various immune cells, enhancing the immune response, and producing a stronger, more complete immunity.

Glucan binds to receptors like Dectin-1, CR3, and TLR-2/6 on cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and granulocytes, activating them and improving their immune functions.

  • Enhanced Phagocytosis: Activated macrophages increase phagocytosis, aiding in the elimination of cancer cells. (5)
  • Oral Administration: When ingested, beta glucan induces peripheral trained immunity. (6) This involves the movement of beta glucan to the pancreas, which increases immune cells displaying trained immunity traits.
  • Monocyte/Macrophage Influx: Beta glucan increases the number of monocytes and macrophages in the pancreatic tissue, which has enhanced tumor-fighting capabilities.

Beta glucan enhances pancreatic cancer treatment, showing increased antitumor activity and improved survival rates in preclinical models. (7)

Research Insights: Beta Glucan's Therapeutic Potentials

Glucan, a natural carbohydrate derived from yeast, has shown significant therapeutic potential in treating pancreatic cancer.

This substance induces trained immunity, enhancing the immune response to cancer cells.

Trained immunity is a newly researched area in immunology where innate immune cells exhibit a form of "memory" that can be stimulated to combat specific stimuli, such as pancreatic tumor cells.

Preclinical Studies: Impacts on Tumor Growth and Survival

Preclinical studies have demonstrated that β-glucan effectively reduces tumor burden and prolongs survival in mice with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Human Studies and Clinical Trial Outcomes

In human studies, beta glucan has been investigated for its effects on immune modulation and cancer therapy outcomes. (8)

Patients with pancreatic cancer have participated in clinical trials where it was administered as part of their daily treatment.

Preliminary results suggest that beta glucan can be safely integrated into cancer treatment protocols, potentially improving patient outcomes. (9)

Combination Therapies with Beta Glucan

Combining beta glucan with other cancer therapies shows promising results.

Researchers have explored its synergy with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Adding beta glucan may enhance the effectiveness of these therapies by boosting the immune response and reducing tumor resistance.

Investigations are being conducted to explore the possibilities of combination medicines, which involve beta glucan and targeted immunotherapies, in offering holistic cancer therapy alternatives.

Dive deeper: Gut Health, Autoimmune Disease and Beta Glucan

Conclusion

Beta glucan in pancreatic cancer enhances patient outcomes.

It offers a promising addition to traditional therapies by utilizing trained immunity.

Ongoing research will solidify its role in cancer treatment strategies, bringing us closer to more effective and personalized therapies.

Suggested Reading: Learn how to keep your childs brain healthy with essential brain food.

References

  1. https://jitc.bmj.com/content/11/4/e006221
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37072351/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8828725/
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704234/#:~:text=Based%20on%20in%20vitro%20studies,killer%20cells%20and%20dendritic%20cells.
  5. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41573-022-00520-5#:~:text=Conversely%2C%20when%20appropriately%20activated%2C%20macrophages,therapeutic%20targets%20in%20cancer%20therapy.
  6. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2024/04/17/2024.04.11.588932.full.pdf
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8828725/
  8. https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-8722-2-25
  9. https://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/alternative/beta-glucan/