Cancer treatment by radiation and anticancer drugs reduces inherent antioxidants and induces oxidative stress, which increases with disease progression. While clinical studies on the effect of anti-oxidants in modulating cancer treatment are limited in number and size, experimental studies show that antioxidant vitamins and some herbs selectively induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells but not in normal cells and prevent angiogenesis and metastatic spread, suggesting a potential role for antioxidants as adjuvants in cancer therapy. Reishi has been shown to suppress cell adhesion and cell migration of highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells, suggesting its potency to reduce tumor invasiveness.
Accumulation of excess free radicals causing oxidative damage to cells is one of the contributing factors in ageing and has been implicated in many diseases, including cancer. The human immune system and antioxidant activity becomes weaker and less efficient with age; this reduced effectiveness helps to explain the rising incidence of cancer and life threatening infections in older people. It is thought antioxidant supplements could help to maintain bodily processes and prevent a significant number of degenerative diseases, especially those of the immune, cardiovascular and liver functions. Indeed, antioxidant supplementation has shown a remarkable ability to forestall age related changes to the immune system and even reverse many aspects of immune function in subjects with damaged immune functions.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/529356/