The Effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) on Levels of CD4+ and CD8+ in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer or Peritoneal Cancer Receiving Platinum Based Chemotherapy

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is a required treatment for most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) or peritoneal cancer. However, it has many adverse events which may affect oncologic outcomes. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) has been reported to be an immunoenhancer to decrease adverse events of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomized and allocated to receive either AHCC three grams/day (500mg/ capsule) or placebo. These drugs were administrated as two capsules orally three times a day throughout six cycles of chemotherapy. The primary outcome was a change of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocytes in peripheral blood samples from baseline to completion of chemotherapy. Secondary outcomes were rate of bone marrow suppression, adverse events and quality of life (QOL) as assessed by Thai version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Results: Study outcomes were analyzed in 28 patients, 14 patients in each group. Changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocytes levels were not significantly different between AHCC and placebo group; 43.5/ul (-237.5, 143.3) versus -69.5 /ul (-223.8, 165) for CD4+ level, p=0.61 and 49.5.0 /ul (-80, 153.3) versus 4.0 /ul (-173, 62.5) for CD8+ level, p=0.19. However, CD8+ levels were significantly higher in the AHCC group at the sixth cycle of chemotherapy; 392.5.0 /ul (310.8, 598) versus 259.5 /ul (170.5, 462.3), p=0.03. There was no difference in bone marrow suppression and QOL between the two groups. Adverse events in terms of nausea and vomiting significantly decreased but muscle pain significantly increased in the AHCC group. Conclusions: Changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocytes from baseline were not significantly increased in AHCC group. However, CD8+T cell lymphocytes levels were significantly higher in the AHCC group at the sixth cycle of chemotherapy.