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In search of a natural chemotherapy adjunct treatment to improve patients’ quality of life Professor Kelvin Chan and Dr Valentina Naumovski from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research and Dr Srinivas Nammi from the School of Science and Health, together with the industry partner PuraPharm Australia Pty., Ltd., have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to evaluate whether an industrial extract of Yunzhi, a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in cancer treatment as a complementary therapy in the Far East, interacts with chemotherapy drugs. ‘Cancer remains the greatest killer in Australia’ says Professor Chan. ‘In Australia, cancer is still most commonly managed by medics prescribing patients a long term drug treatment plan. However, natural product therapies including traditional Chinese medicine are increasingly being used by people to manage their conditions. This includes as an adjunct support to provide relief from chemotherapy by alleviating the side-effects and in particular its destructive effect on the immune system.’ This project will use a rat model to evaluate whether an industry extract of the Coriolus versicolor mushroom interacts with chemotherapy drugs. The data from this study will be used in the design of a local clinical trial of the extract as an adjunct therapy for cancer. Professor Chan summarised that ‘The goal of the collaborators is to lead the modernisation and internationalisation of quality, safe and efficacious traditional Chinese medicines that can be reliably incorporated into integrative healthcare. The development of an adjunct therapy which helps to boost the immune system whilst maintaining the action of the chemotherapy drugs makes a contribution to those aims. The potential outcomes would also provide information on appropriate use and labelling of this mushroom extract. The research may allow the industry partner to obtain TGA approval and accelerate the introduction of a new product for Australian health. Project Title: Pharmacological interactions of extracts of Coriolus versicolor, Yunzhi and chemotherapy medications Funding has been set at: $25,000 Contact Details: [email protected] www.uws.edu.au/complemed January 2014