Regulation of cancer cell signaling pathways as key events for therapeutic relevance of edible and medicinal mushrooms

Mushrooms, both edible and medicinal have received considerable attention against cancer due to their polysaccharides, polysaccharides-protein complexes and low molecular weight secondary metabolites content. Every year, millions of people die because of this disease. Existing cancer therapies are poised with questions of efficacy, toxicity and adverse effects, hence justifying the search for finding new, alternative and efficient means to fend off the disease. Mushrooms and their derived active molecules can prevent oncogenesis and tumour metastasis via directly inhibiting tumour cells growth or indirectly improving immunity functions and by acting as chemotherapy adjuvants. While the mechanisms of such effects are not fully known, the roles of the bioactive compounds on cell signaling pathways involved in the promotion and progression of the disease appear to be key, particularly in view of their role(s) in multiple cellular processes, including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. This review discusses the aberrant cell signaling pathways involved in inhibition of tumour cell growth as target for mushrooms and their bioactive compounds as well as the associated challenges for the molecules therein to be successfully considered as preventive/therapeutic agents against cancer.