Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is known as a valuable herb in the search for anticancer lead compounds because it has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medication. Triterpenoids are the principal active components in this fungus. To examine the bioactivity of triterpene compounds, Ganoderic acid T (GA-T) was isolated from G. lucidum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this study, we investigated the anti-invasion and antimetastasis mechanisms of GA-Tin vitro. GA-T dose-dependently inhibited 95-D cells migration by wound healing assay. Results of cell aggregation and adhesion assay showed that GA-T could promote cell aggregation and simultaneously inhibit cell from adhering to extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, GA-T suppressed MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression, hence, decreased protein level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 95-D cells, according to RT-PCR assay and Western blot assay. These results demonstrate that GA-T effectively inhibits tumor metastasis in vitro. According to the result of Western blot, the suppression of NF-kappa B activation likely abrogates the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, thus prevents tumor metastasis. These results suggest that GA-T has therapeutic potential against high metastatic lung carcinoma as a new agent. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.