消化道（GI）癌症是世界上最常见的癌症，也是癌症相关死亡的主要原因之一。在临床上，手术切除和化疗是治疗GI癌症的主要方法，不幸的是，这些方法伴随着严重的不良反应和药物毒性，给患者带来了不可逆的损害，严重影响了生活质量。灵芝在中国有着悠久的药用和食用历史。其活性化合物主要包括多糖、三萜类化合物和蛋白质，通过抑制增殖、诱导凋亡、抑制转移和调节自噬等方式，具有潜在的抗肿瘤活性。目前，还没有对灵芝在GI癌症治疗中的抗肿瘤效应进行深入的综述。因此，本综述试图从中西医角度，汇编灵芝的基本特性、抗GI癌症机制和临床应用，旨在为进一步研究灵芝在预防和治疗GI癌症中的作用提供参考。© 2023. 国际中医学学会和BioMed Central有限公司。

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the most common cancer in the world and one of the main causes of cancer-related death. Clinically, surgical excision and chemotherapy are the main treatment methods for GI cancer, which is unfortunately accompanied with serious adverse reactions and drug toxicity, bringing irreversible damage to patients and seriously affecting the quality of life. Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has a long history of medicinal and edible use in China. Its bioactive compounds mainly include polysaccharides, triterpenes, and proteins, which have potential anti-tumor activities by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting metastasis, and regulating autophagy. Currently, there is no in-depth review on the anti-tumor effect of G. lucidum in GI cancer. Therefore, this review is an attempt to compile the basic characteristics, anti-GI caner mechanisms, and clinical application of G. lucidum, aiming to provide a reference for further research on the role of G. lucidum in the prevention and treatment of GI cancer from the perspective of traditional Chinese and western medicine.© 2023. International Society for Chinese Medicine and BioMed Central Ltd.