Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world and according to the WHO it caused approximately 7.6 million deaths in 2008 (WHO, 2011). The most common forms of cancer found in the United States are breast and prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2011). Anti-cancer drugs and cancer treatment have made inadequate progress over the past decade. However, today there is a greater understanding of the molecular basis behind the formations of tumorigenesis. This knowledge, combined with the molecular diversity of natural compounds such as those found in mushrooms, has paved the way for the discovery of new drugs. These drugs have the ability to target the abnormal molecular and biochemical signals that lead to cancer. Research has shown that Eastern medicine has incorporated the use of medicinal mushrooms for clinical treatment for centuries. Over the past two years, scientific and medical studies in Japan, China, Korea and, most recently, the United States have demonstrated the powerful and unique properties of compounds extracted from mushrooms for the prevention and treatment of cancer (Zaidman et. al, 2005 ).A recent study conducted in Australia showed that the mushroom Coriolus versicolor, also known as English turkey tail, possessed a rare compound that prevented the development of prostate tumors in animals. Coriolus versicolor has been shown to secrete a natural chemical known as polysaccharopeptide or PSP (Ling & Bavas, 2011). Which is a complex sugar molecule attached to a chain of amino acids. The strength of this compound lies in its ability to boost helper T cells, which play a crucial role in strengthening the immune system. Turkey tail mushroom has been the focus of numerous controlled clinics...... middle of paper ......or mushroom for cancer treatment. The world today. [audio podcast]. Retrieved from Ng, TB1998. A review of research on the protein-bound polysaccharide (polysaccharopeptide, psp) of the mushroom Coriolus versicolor (Basidiomycetes: polyporaceae) Gen. Pharmac., 30(1), 1-4.Wan, J.P., Sit, W. and Louie, J.C. (2008) Polysaccharopeptide enhances antitumor activity of doxorubicin and etoposide on zr-75-30 human breast cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology 32: 689-699.Who(2011). Cancer fact sheet n°297. Retrieved from the World Health Organization (WHO) website: Zaidman, B., Yassin, M., Mahajna, J., Wasser, S.P., 2005. Medicinal mushroom modulators of molecular targets as anticancer therapies. Microbial biotechnology appl 67: 453–468.