# AHCC (active hexose correlated compound)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/ahcc-shiitake-extract/  
OnCo record `ahcc-shiitake-extract` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

AHCC is a proprietary extract of shiitake mushroom mycelium taken to prevent and treat cancer. Early studies hint at fewer chemotherapy side effects and better outcomes after liver cancer surgery, but in a multicentre study in early prostate cancer it did not lower the blood marker it was meant to. It may weaken aromatase inhibitors.

## Summary

Active hexose correlated compound is a proprietary extract from shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mycelia, rich in alpha-glucan oligosaccharides. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs summary describes immune effects in healthy adults (T-cell and dendritic-cell responses, better influenza vaccine antibody response) and preliminary findings that it may reduce recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, improve nutrition during neoadjuvant therapy and reduce chemotherapy side effects. In an open-label multicentre study in early prostate cancer it did not achieve a 50 per cent or greater fall in prostate-specific antigen. MSK concludes further research is needed. Reported side effects are diarrhoea and mild itching. AHCC induces the liver enzyme CYP2D6, which could lower levels of drugs such as doxorubicin and ondansetron, and induces aromatase, which could reduce the activity of letrozole and anastrozole; the clinical importance of both is not known.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: phase-2
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Active hexose correlated compound
- Tags: complementary; supportive-care; evidence:insufficient
- Principle: Low-molecular-weight alpha-glucans prime toll-like receptors in the gut lining and raise natural killer and T-cell activity in laboratory and small human studies.
- Strengths: Studied in people, including small trials during chemotherapy; Well tolerated in trials
- Limitations: Negative in an early prostate cancer study; No adequately sized controlled trial with survival; Possible interaction with aromatase inhibitors

## Sources

- MSK About Herbs: AHCC (page last updated 17 September 2026): https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/ahcc
- NCI PDQ: Medicinal mushrooms: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/mushrooms-pdq

## Connected records

- technologies: [Agaricus blazei mushroom](https://onco.cc/technologies/agaricus-blazei/), [Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms](https://onco.cc/technologies/dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions/), [Evidence-based integrative oncology](https://onco.cc/technologies/integrative-oncology/), [Maitake mushroom extracts](https://onco.cc/technologies/maitake-mushroom/), [Medicinal mushrooms: reishi, turkey tail, shiitake and others](https://onco.cc/technologies/medicinal-mushrooms-reishi-turkey-tail/), [MGN-3 (rice bran arabinoxylan, BioBran)](https://onco.cc/technologies/mgn-3-rice-bran-arabinoxylan/)
- fronts: [Diet, Exercise & Lifestyle](https://onco.cc/fronts/nutrition-lifestyle/), [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- drugs: [Anastrozole](https://onco.cc/drugs/anastrozole/), [Doxorubicin](https://onco.cc/drugs/doxorubicin/), [Letrozole (and other aromatase inhibitors)](https://onco.cc/drugs/letrozole/), [Ondansetron](https://onco.cc/drugs/ondansetron/)
- bottlenecks: [Misinformation and unproven therapies](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-misinformation/)

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