Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Most patients with pancreatic cancer experience systemic recurrence within 1 to 2 years after radical pancreatectomy. Phellinus linteus (PL) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, suggesting potential as an adjunct to cancer therapy. This study aim...

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Main Authors: Juwan Kim MD, Seung Soo Hong MD, Sung Hyun Kim MD, MS, Ho Kyoung Hwang MD, PhD, Chang Moo Kang MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-06-01
Series:Integrative Cancer Therapies
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251353499
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author Juwan Kim MD
Seung Soo Hong MD
Sung Hyun Kim MD, MS
Ho Kyoung Hwang MD, PhD
Chang Moo Kang MD, PhD
author_facet Juwan Kim MD
Seung Soo Hong MD
Sung Hyun Kim MD, MS
Ho Kyoung Hwang MD, PhD
Chang Moo Kang MD, PhD
author_sort Juwan Kim MD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Most patients with pancreatic cancer experience systemic recurrence within 1 to 2 years after radical pancreatectomy. Phellinus linteus (PL) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, suggesting potential as an adjunct to cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term oncological impact of perioperative PL in resected pancreatic cancer. Method: This retrospective cohort study included 407 patients who underwent curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer at Severance Hospital (2012-2022). Among them, 103 patients who began PL postoperatively and continued throughout treatment were assigned to the PL group; 304 patients without PL intake comprised the control group. Results: The mean overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the PL group (47.0 months; 95% CI: 42.8-51.1) than in the control group (35.0 months; 95% CI: 30.3-39.7; P < .001). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) showed a borderline improvement ( P = .053). PL use was marginally associated with improved OS in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.614; 95% CI: 0.376-1.002; P = .051). Subgroup analysis showed no significant OS or RFS benefit with PL in patients receiving FOLFIRINOX. However, among patients treated with non-FOLFIRINOX regimens, PL use led to significantly better OS (43.9 months vs 35.0 months; P = .021), though RFS remained similar. Notably, the OS of the non-FOLFIRINOX + PL group was comparable to that of the FOLFIRINOX group ( P = .332) and superior to the non-FOLFIRINOX control group ( P = .021). Conclusion: PL may enhance survival in resected pancreatic cancer, particularly in patients receiving non-FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, supporting its role as a potential adjunct when FOLFIRINOX is not feasible.
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spelling doaj-art-eedc499abefb471f907c036fd78d2f832025-08-20T03:16:00ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1552-695X2025-06-012410.1177/15347354251353499Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort StudyJuwan Kim MD0Seung Soo Hong MD1Sung Hyun Kim MD, MS2Ho Kyoung Hwang MD, PhD3Chang Moo Kang MD, PhD4Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, KoreaIntroduction: Most patients with pancreatic cancer experience systemic recurrence within 1 to 2 years after radical pancreatectomy. Phellinus linteus (PL) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, suggesting potential as an adjunct to cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term oncological impact of perioperative PL in resected pancreatic cancer. Method: This retrospective cohort study included 407 patients who underwent curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer at Severance Hospital (2012-2022). Among them, 103 patients who began PL postoperatively and continued throughout treatment were assigned to the PL group; 304 patients without PL intake comprised the control group. Results: The mean overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the PL group (47.0 months; 95% CI: 42.8-51.1) than in the control group (35.0 months; 95% CI: 30.3-39.7; P < .001). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) showed a borderline improvement ( P = .053). PL use was marginally associated with improved OS in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.614; 95% CI: 0.376-1.002; P = .051). Subgroup analysis showed no significant OS or RFS benefit with PL in patients receiving FOLFIRINOX. However, among patients treated with non-FOLFIRINOX regimens, PL use led to significantly better OS (43.9 months vs 35.0 months; P = .021), though RFS remained similar. Notably, the OS of the non-FOLFIRINOX + PL group was comparable to that of the FOLFIRINOX group ( P = .332) and superior to the non-FOLFIRINOX control group ( P = .021). Conclusion: PL may enhance survival in resected pancreatic cancer, particularly in patients receiving non-FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, supporting its role as a potential adjunct when FOLFIRINOX is not feasible.https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251353499
spellingShingle Juwan Kim MD
Seung Soo Hong MD
Sung Hyun Kim MD, MS
Ho Kyoung Hwang MD, PhD
Chang Moo Kang MD, PhD
Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Integrative Cancer Therapies
title Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
title_fullStr Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full_unstemmed Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
title_short Perioperative Clinical Usage of Phellinus Linteus as a Nutraceutical for Non-FOLFIRINOX-Based Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
title_sort perioperative clinical usage of phellinus linteus as a nutraceutical for non folfirinox based postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for resected pancreatic cancer a retrospective cohort study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354251353499
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