OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated the effects produced by combinations of polysaccharides and chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment.We hypothesized that a combinationo fpolysaccha rides(COP) from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake would improve the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)-mediated inhibition of H22 cell growth.METHODS: Mice were injected H22 cells and then treated with either 5-FU, polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake(PTM), polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes(PL), PTM+PL, 5-FU+PTM, 5-FU+PL, or 5-FU+COP. The tumor weight and volume,and splenic CD4 + and CD8 + T cell frequencies,were determined. Additionally, splenic natural killer(NK) cell and cytotoxic Tlymphocyte (CTL) activities were assessed and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),Interleukin-2(IL-2),and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured. 5-FU, PL, PTM, PTM+PL, 5-FU+PL, and 5-FU+PTM groups, mice treated with 5-FU+COP showed:(a)significantly reduced tumor weight and volume(P<0.05);(b) significantly higher serum levels ofTNF-α,IL-2, and IFN-γ(P<0.05);(c) significantly increased CD4+andCD8+Tcell frequencies in the spleen(P<0.05); and(d) significantly increased splenic NK cell and CTL activities(P<0.05). The tumor weight and volume in mice treated with 5-FU+PL or 5-FU+PTM were significantly reduced compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone(P<0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ, frequencies of CD4 + and CD8+T cells in the spleen, and splenic NK and CTL activities were also significantly increased in mice treated with 5-FU+PL or 5-FU+PTM compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU-mediated H22 cell growth inhibition. OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated the effects produced by combinations of polysaccharides and chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment. We hypothesized that a combination of fpolysaccha rides (COP) from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake would improve the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) - mediated inhibition of H22 cell growth. METHODS: Mice were injected with H22 cells and then treated with either 5-FU, polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake (PTM), polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes (PL), PTM + PL, -FU + PL, or 5-FU + COP. The tumor weight and volume, and splenic CD4 + and CD8 + T cell frequencies, were determined. Also, splenic natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic Tlymphocyte and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), and Interferon-γ -FU + PL, and 5-FU + PTM groups, mice treated with 5-FU + COP showed: (a) significantly reduced tumor weight and volume (P < (b) significantly higher serum levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and IFN-γ (P <0.05); (c) significantly increased CD4 + and CD8 + Tcell frequencies in the spleen Increased splenic NK cell and CTL activities (P <0.05). The tumor weight and volume in mice treated with 5-FU + PL or 5-FU + PTM were significantly reduced compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone . Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ, frequencies of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen, and splenic NK and CTL activities were also significantly increased in mice treated with 5-FU + PL or 5-FU + PTM compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone (P <0.05) .CONCLUSION: Polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU-mediated H22 cell growth inhibition.