Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39300166›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

Enhancing cancer immunotherapy using cordycepin and Cordyceps militaris extract to sensitize cancer cells and modulate immune responses.

Chutamas Thepmalee, Phanitaporn Jenkham, Boonyanuch Ramwarungkura, Nittiya Suwannasom, Krissana Khoothiam, Chonthida Thephinlap, Nunghathai Sawasdee, Aussara Panya, Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Preclinical Evidence ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  9. Review
  10. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Chutamas ThepmaleeUnit of Excellence on Research and Development of Cancer Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Phanitaporn JenkhamUnit of Excellence on Research and Development of Cancer Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Boonyanuch RamwarungkuraDivision of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE‑CIT), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nittiya SuwannasomUnit of Excellence on Research and Development of Cancer Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Krissana KhoothiamUnit of Excellence on Research and Development of Cancer Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Chonthida ThephinlapUnit of Excellence on Research and Development of Cancer Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Nunghathai SawasdeeDivision of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE‑CIT), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Aussara PanyaCell Engineering for Cancer Therapy Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Pa-Thai YenchitsomanusDivision of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE‑CIT), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. ptyench@gmail.com.

Funding

Chiang Mai University Aussara PanyaOffice of the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation in Thailand RGNS 63-145Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund, and the University of Phayao FF66-RIM048
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Integrating immunotherapy with natural compounds holds promise in enhancing the immune system's ability to eliminate cancer cells. Cordyceps militaris, a traditional Chinese medicine, emerges as a promising candidate in this regard. This study investigates the effects of cordycepin and C. militaris ethanolic extract (Cm-EE) on sensitizing cancer cells and regulating immune responses against breast cancer (BC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Cordycepin, pentostatin and adenosine were identified in Cm-EE. Cordycepin treatment decreased HLA-ABC-positive cells in pre-treated cancer cells, while Cm-EE increased NKG2D ligand and death receptor expression. Additionally, cordycepin enhanced NKG2D receptor and death ligand expression on CD3-negative effector immune cells, particularly on natural killer (NK) cells, while Cm-EE pre-treatment stimulated IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 production. Co-culturing cancer cells with effector immune cells during cordycepin or Cm-EE incubation resulted in elevated cancer cell death. These findings highlight the potential of cordycepin and Cm-EE in improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy for BC and HCC.

Indexed as

CordycepsDeoxyadenosinesImmunotherapyBreast NeoplasmsCarcinoma, HepatocellularCell Line, TumorFemaleHumansKiller Cells, NaturalLiver NeoplasmscordycepinDeoxyadenosinesCancer immunotherapyC. militaris ethanolic extract (Cm-EE)CordycepinImmunomodulatory effectSensitization

Identifiers

PMID39300166
PMCPMC11413023

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.