Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) and cancer care
What 5 graded rows on turkey tail mushroom (trametes versicolor) agree on for cancer care, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) and cancer care
5 rows · 20,457 peopleSplit. 2 rows found an improvement, 1 found no difference and 2 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 4
- DGrade D× 1
- Rows
- 5
- Trials
- 40
- People
- 20,457
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 10,684 people (2017) and found an improvement.
The 2 rows that found an improvement were larger: a median of 9,347 people, against 186 people for the row that found no difference.
The 2 rows that found an improvement are pooled reviews of several trials; the row that found no difference is a single study.
The row that found no difference is newer (2024) than the 2 rows that found an improvement (2007 to 2017).
2 rows with mixed results are left out of this comparison.
The rows
2 improved · 1 no difference · 2 mixed- CGrade CSurvival in gastrointestinal cancers · Improved
Meta-analysis, 23 studies · n 10,684 · 2017 · Patients with colorectal, oesophageal or gastric cancer in 23 RCTs
As given in each trial · Varied
PSK increased 1–5-year overall survival and 1–7-year disease-free survival, with no increase in side effects; strongest with chemotherapy in colorectal and gastric cancer.
Row on the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page · PubMed 29179503 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CSurvival after curative gastric cancer surgery · Improved
Meta-analysis, 8 studies · n 8,009 · 2007 · Patients after curative gastric cancer resection in 8 RCTs
As given in each trial (not stated in abstract) · Varied
Overall hazard ratio for death 0.88 (95% CI 0.79–0.98) with PSK immunochemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone.
Row on the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page · PubMed 17106715 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade C3-year disease-free survival in colorectal cancer · No difference
RCT · n 186 · 2024 · Adults after surgery for stage II/III colorectal cancer in Japan: oral chemotherapy alone (37), plus PSK for 6 months (75) or 12 months (74)
3 g/day of PSK with UFT/leucovorin · 6 or 12 months
Three-year disease-free survival was 72.5%, 82.2% and 74.2%, with no significant differences; grade 3 or worse adverse events were 13.5%, 9.6% and 9.9%.
Row on the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page · PubMed 38307591 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CChemotherapy side effects and survival in colorectal cancer · Mixed
Systematic review, 7 studies · n 1,569 · 2022 · Adults with stage II–IV colorectal cancer in 7 randomized trials, turkey tail extract added to chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Varied by trial · 4 weeks to 3 years
Little to no effect on stopping treatment because of side effects (RR 1.03); effects on neutropenia, nausea, diarrhoea and mouth problems were uncertain. Five-year survival was slightly higher (RR 1.08; 1,094 people, 3 trials; about 16 people treated for one more survivor).
Row on the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page · PubMed 36445793 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DTolerability and immune markers after breast cancer radiotherapy · Mixed
Open-label trial · n 9 · 2012 · Women after breast cancer radiotherapy (9 of 11 completed; USA)
3, 6 or 9 g/day · 6 weeks
Nine adverse events (7 mild, 1 moderate, 1 severe); trends towards higher lymphocyte counts and NK activity at 6–9 g/day.
Row on the Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) page · PubMed 22701186 (opens PubMed)