EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. This literature study commissioned by the Cancer Research Campaign in November 2000, entailed searching computerized databases of published literature (e.g. Medline, BIDS/WOS, Embase, Science Citation Index, British Library Net) and searching of relevant specialised journals (as outlined in the proposal), many of which are not included in the computerized databases. Many original and peer-reviewed papers were obtained from the Document Supply Centre of British Library Net and scanning reference lists of appropriate review articles, books and other relevant publications (including symposia and conference proceedings). Consultations were achieved with key informants in the field, nationally and internationally. In addition to writing to many internationally-leading scientists in this field, Prof Smith spoke to a number of these scientists at an international conference held recently in Kiev where he presented an invited paper on this particular topic. However, while most of the aforementioned strategies proved successful, we were disappointed at the lack of response from some key scientific and medical centres in China and Japan who have specialised knowledge in this particular field. We believe that this seminal literature study does contain the best up to date information on the therapeutic properties and current medical usage of medicinal mushrooms with special emphasis given on cancer treatment. It is proposed that the critical information in this report will be used to write reviews for appropriate journals. As a closing qualifying remark, while every effort was made to ensure that the best-published-data was gathered on the aforementioned, it must be appreciated that this particular field is enormous and a limited number of interesting papers may have been missed. .