Health topic

Stomach Cancer

These are reviewed research connections, not a ranked list of remedies. An ingredient can appear here because evidence was uncertain, preclinical, or limited to a specific preparation and setting.

Ailment-to-evidence view

What the reviewed research points to

This order reflects the depth of the reviewed evidence, not which option works best or what anyone should take. Mixed and negative findings stay in the list because they can be more useful than a promising headline.

Deeper reviewed evidence Stronger human signal

Turkey Tail

The signal comes from pooled randomized trials with clinical survival outcomes, but the studies are older and product-specific.

Studied form
PSK, a proprietary protein-bound polysaccharide preparation derived from cultured Turkey Tail mycelium
Outcome
Overall survival after curative gastric cancer resection
Evidence
Meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials

3 reviewed records contribute to this connection.

See the evidence and cautions →
How this order is calculated

Evidence syntheses come before individual randomized trials, which come before early human and preclinical work. Sample-size bands add a small amount. Positive, mixed, negative, and safety-only directions do not change the depth score. Study independence is not yet scored, so overlapping reviews must not be counted as separate confirmation.

Connected ingredients

What appears in the current evidence map

Source-linked records

3 reviewed records

Evidence synthesis Stronger human signal 8 randomized trials, 8,009 participants

Adjuvant PSK after curative gastric cancer surgery: meta-analysis

Across eight older Japanese trials, adding PSK to postoperative chemotherapy was associated with a modest improvement in overall survival. The result applies to adjunct PSK in those treatment settings, not to Turkey Tail supplements used alone.

What was studied
PSK, a proprietary protein-bound polysaccharide preparation derived from cultured Turkey Tail mycelium
Setting
Studied with standard care
Why it ranks here
The signal comes from pooled randomized trials with clinical survival outcomes, but the studies are older and product-specific.
Limits and cautions
  • The trials were conducted in older Japanese postoperative chemotherapy settings.
  • PSK is a specific standardized preparation and should not be treated as equivalent to retail Turkey Tail powders or extracts.
  • The meta-analysis does not establish PSK as a replacement for surgery or chemotherapy.

PSK is used as an adjunct in Japan. It is not FDA-approved in the United States as a cancer treatment.

Randomized trial Promising, with limits 262 participants

PSK with chemotherapy after gastric cancer surgery: randomized trial

This older Japanese randomized trial reported better five-year disease-free and overall survival when PSK was added to postoperative chemotherapy. It does not test a retail Turkey Tail supplement or stand-alone mushroom treatment.

What was studied
Protein-bound PSK added to mitomycin and oral fluorouracil after curative gastrectomy
Setting
Studied with standard care
Why it ranks here
The trial measured clinical outcomes and used randomization, but it reflects one older regimen and one specific PSK product.
Limits and cautions
  • The trial is from 1994 and used an older chemotherapy regimen.
  • The intervention was standardized PSK, not ordinary Turkey Tail powder.
  • The study evaluated adjunct use after surgery and does not support replacing standard care.

PSK is not FDA-approved in the United States as a cancer treatment.

Randomized trial Early signal 21 participants

Small randomized PSK study after stage III gastric cancer surgery

The PSK group had better reported three-year survival and a change in one immune-cell measure, but only 21 people were studied. The result is interesting and highly uncertain, so it should be treated as an early signal rather than a reliable treatment estimate.

What was studied
PSK 3 g/day plus tegafur-uracil after surgery, compared with tegafur-uracil alone
Setting
Studied with standard care
Why it ranks here
Randomization is a strength, but the sample is far too small for a stable estimate and the result may be exaggerated by chance.
Limits and cautions
  • The sample was extremely small, with 10 participants in the PSK group and 11 in the control group.
  • A large apparent effect in a very small trial may not replicate.
  • The intervention and chemotherapy context do not match ordinary retail Turkey Tail use.

PSK is not FDA-approved in the United States as a cancer treatment.