Lentinan dosing & administration
Mushroom-derived β-glucan polysaccharide with potent immunomodulatory and antitumor properties approved for cancer therapy in Japan
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Dosing
How much do I take?
Intravenous: Delivered straight into a vein through a drip (IV), done by a clinician.
Bioavailability Complete (about 100%) — delivered straight into the bloodstream.
2 documented dose levels — separate regimens, not a titration schedule
1 mg per dose
Frequency
Twice weekly
Duration
Continued alongside chemotherapy cycles
2 mg per dose
Frequency
Once weekly (some protocols every 2-3 weeks)
Duration
Continued alongside chemotherapy cycles
Timing
Best time to take
Lentinan is administered intravenously in a clinical setting. Timing is determined by your healthcare provider based on the treatment protocol and your medical needs.
With food?
IV administration of Lentinan is not dependent on meal timing. Your healthcare team will provide specific instructions regarding food and fluid intake around treatment sessions.
If stacking
Lentinan should be used as directed by your healthcare provider. If combining with other medications or supplements, discuss potential interactions with your provider. Avoid combining with compounds that have overlapping mechanisms unless specifically guided by a medical professional.
Adjusting your dose
Increase if
- Initial doses are well-tolerated and oncologist recommends escalation
- Immune response markers indicate room for further activation
- Higher doses are part of the specific clinical protocol being followed
Decrease if
- You experience infusion reactions such as fever, chills, or chest tightness
- Blood counts show granulocytopenia or other concerning changes
- Liver enzymes become elevated during treatment
- Your oncologist determines a lower dose is appropriate based on clinical response
Signs of right dose
- Noticeable improvement in target symptoms
- Good tolerance with minimal side effects
- Consistent positive response between doses
- Improved lab markers or clinical assessments (if applicable)
Administration
How do I use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
Injection
Route
Subcutaneous injection (into the fatty tissue just under the skin)—allows for consistent absorption and can be self-administered at home after proper training
Best sites
Storage
Before reconstitution
Store Lentinan in the refrigerator at 36-46°F (2-8°C) in its original packaging. Protect from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Check the expiration date before use. Some formulations may be stored at room temperature for limited periods—check your specific product labeling.
After reconstitution
Once reconstituted, Lentinan should be kept refrigerated at 36-46°F (2-8°C) and used within the timeframe specified on your product labeling (typically 14-28 days). Label the vial with the reconstitution date. Do not use if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles.
Signs of degradation — discard the vial
Sample daily schedule
As prescribed (once weekly)
As prescribed by your healthcare provider injection
Site: Intravenous infusion—rotate sites if applicable
Maintain a consistent schedule for optimal results with Lentinan. Set reminders if needed. If you miss a dose, follow your healthcare provider's instructions—do not double up on doses to compensate.
Safety
Is it safe?
Side effects
Commonly reported: Fever and chills, Infusion site discomfort, Transient fatigue, Nausea
Less common: Chest tightness or back pain, Granulocytopenia
Stop and seek help if
- Severe or worsening side effects that don't improve with dose adjustment or supportive care
- Signs of an allergic reaction—rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing
- Your healthcare provider recommends discontinuation based on your clinical response
- Development of any new medical condition that may be contraindicated with Lentinan
- Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant (unless specifically approved for use during pregnancy)
- Abnormal lab results or clinical markers that suggest adverse effects
Lentinan should only be started, adjusted, or discontinued under medical supervision. This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Never stop a prescribed treatment without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abrupt discontinuation may have consequences.
Flagged pairings
- Immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus) — Lentinan's potent immune-activating effects may counteract the intended immunosuppression. Avoid concurrent use unless specifically directed by a physician.
Published research
What the studies show
Nakano H, Namatame K, Nemoto H (Kanagawa Lentinan Research Group) · 1999
Advanced stomach cancer patients getting lentinan with chemo lived 50% longer than those getting chemo alone—nearly 300 days versus 200 days. Remarkably, nearly half the lentinan group survived the full year while literally none of the control group did, plus their appetite and sleep improved dramatically.
Zhou G, Liu H, Yuan Y · 2024
This mushroom extract is officially approved in both China and Japan as an add-on to cancer chemo. Real clinical evidence shows lentinan doesn't just help patients live longer—it also supercharges their immune system to attack cancer while protecting them from the brutal side effects of chemotherapy drugs.
Wasser SP · 2002
Scientists studied polysaccharides from over 650 mushroom species and found that lentinan is one of the most clinically proven cancer-fighters. The secret is its special structure—a sugar chain with specific branches that let immune T-cells recognize and attack tumors without destroying healthy tissue.
Motta F, Gershwin ME, Selmi C · 2021
A comprehensive review of multiple studies found that lentinan boosts the cancer-killing power of chemotherapy specifically in lung cancer patients and dramatically improves how they feel. The mushroom sugar works by waking up immune cells—macrophages, T-cells, and NK killers—to destroy cancer more effectively.
Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhou Y · 2021
Lentinan doesn't just recruit immune cells—it also directly stresses cancer cells, forcing them to delete themselves through autophagy. This dual action means colon cancer cells face attack from both directions: the awakened immune system outside and self-destruction triggered from within.
Drugs.com / Natural Products Database · 2024
For gastrointestinal cancer, lentinan is administered intravenously at 1 mg/person twice weekly or 2 mg/person once weekly in combination with chemotherapy; approved in Japan in 1985 as a biological response modifier for gastric cancer.
Gordon M, Bihari B, Goosby E, et al. · 1998
Two placebo-controlled phase I/II trials, 98 HIV-positive patients: 2, 5 or 10 mg IV once weekly for 8 weeks, or 1 or 5 mg IV twice weekly for 12 weeks. With 10-minute infusions there were nine FDA-reportable adverse events — one case each of anaphylactoid reaction, back pain, leg pain, depression, rigor, fever, chills, granulocytopenia and elevated liver enzymes; with 30-minute infusions there were none. Side effects were mainly mild and resolved within 24 hours of discontinuation, confirming in Caucasian subjects the tolerability observed in Japanese cancer patients.
Gordon M, Guralnik M, Kaneko Y, et al. · 1995
In 107 enrolled HIV-positive patients, 2 mg/week IV lentinan added to didanosine produced significant CD4 increases sustained to 38 weeks, versus a short-lived effect with didanosine alone.
Zhang M, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Tian Q · 2019
Systematic review of 9,474 lentinan-associated cancer treatment cases from 135 Chinese studies (2004-2016), including 3,469 lung cancer cases: overall clinical data show solid effect on improving quality of life and promoting the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Notes immunocyte activation through TLR4/Dectin1-MAPK and Syk-PKC-NFκB signaling and approval as an adjuvant therapeutic in both China and Japan.
Wang H, Cai Y, Zheng Y, Bai Q, Xie D, Yu J · 2017
Meta-analysis of 17 prospective controlled trials, 1,423 patients with advanced gastrointestinal and lung cancer: lentinan added to chemotherapy increased 1-year survival (RR 1.46) and overall response rate (RR 1.28), and reduced progressive disease, non-severe (RR 0.88) and severe (RR 0.73) adverse events.
Ina K, Kataoka T, Ando T · 2013
Open-access review: lentinan, a beta-(1,3)-glucan with beta-(1,6) branches purified from shiitake, is licensed in Japan and approved as a biological response modifier for the treatment of gastric cancer, used with oral fluoropyrimidines in adjuvant and advanced settings; S-1-based chemo-immunotherapy with lentinan prolonged overall survival versus chemotherapy alone (median 689 vs 565 days).
Head to head
Lentinan compared
Want the full picture?
The complete Lentinan research profile: mechanism of action, clinical studies, effectiveness timeline, and FAQ.