Can soya sauce fermentation unlock new cancer therapies?

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Soya Sauce Fermentation May Hold Potential for New Cancer Therapies

A collaboration between Singaporean skincare company Kitkoji and the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is investigating the potential of fungal metabolites, specifically from Aspergillus oryzae (koji), for cancer treatment. This research stems from early findings of anti-cancer effects in a proprietary extract derived from Kitkoji's products, which originated from Nanyang Sauce, a traditional soya sauce business. The initiative aims to explore the cancer mycobiome to identify active compounds that could lead to future cancer therapies.
Research Focuses on Koji Mould Extracts

Kitkoji, a spin-off from Nanyang Sauce, is collaborating with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) on a one-year project initiated in May. The core of this research is Aspergillus oryzae, also known as koji, a mould integral to the fermentation processes for products like soya sauce, miso, and sake. This collaboration seeks to validate preliminary results indicating that a specific extract developed by Kitkoji exhibits anti-cancer properties.
User Experience Prompted Further Investigation

The impetus for NCCS's involvement arose from a user's anecdotal report in 2023 claiming that Kitkoji's skincare products aided in clearing melanoma spots. This personal account prompted Kitkoji's CEO, Ken Koh, who had previously launched the skincare brand in 2022 based on findings of antioxidant and anti-ageing properties in Nanyang's soya sauce, to approach NCCS for scientific validation. Subsequent laboratory tests on an extract, labelled "Extract K," demonstrated potential in combating various cancers, including breast, lung, and skin cancers, showing promising performance in xenograft models using human cancer cells.
Exploration of Cancer Mycobiome for Novel Compounds

The ongoing collaboration between NCCS and Kitkoji extends to an investigation of the cancer mycobiome, which refers to the fungal communities found within and surrounding tumours. The objective is to identify specific active compounds from these fungi that could potentially be developed into new therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. Assistant Professor Jason Chan, director of the NCCS Cancer Discovery Hub, highlighted the shared vision of translating scientific discoveries into practical clinical outcomes through this partnership.

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Can soya sauce fermentation unlock new cancer therapies?

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