This review examines receptors that may mediate the antitumor effects reported for beta-1,3-glucans. It covers established receptors such as Dectin-1 and complement receptor 3 together with additional proposed recognition pathways, and discusses how receptor signaling could affect innate and adaptive immune responses. The authors also consider the rationale for combining beta-glucans with immune-checkpoint treatment. The article is a mechanistic synthesis of prior work, not a clinical trial, so it supports biological hypotheses but does not by itself show that a beta-glucan treatment improves cancer outcomes in patients.
The review maps beta-glucan recognition receptors and the immune pathways that may contribute to antitumor activity.
The proposed mechanisms and combination strategies require confirmation in appropriately designed human studies.
AI-generated summary for accessibility. Always refer to the original paper.
Iwai, Atsushi. Involvement of β-glucan receptors on the antitumor activity of β-glucans. Clinical Immunology Communications. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.clicom.2024.12.002.
For scientific reference only. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional. See our Medical Disclaimer.