Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells with the potential to metastasize. The treatments given to cancer patients are designed to either directly remove the cancer cells or exert a controlled death of the cancer cells by anti-proliferative and cytotoxic chemicals via cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction. Systemic therapy with antitumor drugs, in addition to surgical and radiation therapies, is one of the primary approaches to cancer treatment. The disadvantages of systemic treatment include side effects on normal tissues and the acquisition of drug resistance, underscoring the importance of combinational treatments. Recently, complementary therapies have been the subject of many studies, and herbal remedies are a large part of complementary therapies.

Among various herbal compounds, Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that has been used for traditional herbal remedies. It contains various bioactive ingredients, including cordycepin. Cordycepin, also known as 3-deoxyadenosine, is a major compound and has been suggested to have anticancer potential. The treatment of various cancer cells with cordycepin effectively induces cell death and retards their cancerous properties (as shown below). However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Recent evidence has shed light on the molecular pathways involving cysteine-aspartic proteases (caspases), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β). Furthermore, the pathways are mediated by putative receptors, such as adenosine receptors (ADORAs), death receptors (DRs), and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

So, according to studies that have been done before, cordycepin is expected to be a potential combinational therapeutic drug for cancer.

Yoon, S. Y., Park, S. J., & Park, Y. J. (2018). The anticancer properties of cordycepin and their underlying mechanisms. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(10), 3027. [Link]