Supportive mistletoe therapy in a patient with metastasized neuroblastoma

Therapies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are used increasingly in paediatric oncology. We present and discuss the influence of supportive mistletoe therapy on factors, such as quality of life, physical ability and performance, and course of disease based on the case of a female patient diagnosed at age 18 with metastasised neuroblastoma, which responded insufficiently to chemotherapy.

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Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum albumL.) in Cancer Patients

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/724258 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Megan L. Steele ◽

Jan Axtner ◽

Antje Happe ◽

Matthias Kröz ◽

Harald Matthes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Adverse Drug Reactions ◽

Anthroposophic Medicine ◽

Tumour Stage ◽

Drug Reactions ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Mistletoe Extracts ◽

Local Reactions ◽

Mistletoe Therapy

Background.In Europe, mistletoe extracts are widely used as a complementary cancer therapy. We assessed the safety of subcutaneous mistletoe as a conjunctive therapy in cancer patients within an anthroposophic medicine setting in Germany.Methods.A multicentre, observational study was performed within the Network Oncology. Suspected mistletoe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were described by frequency, causality, severity, and seriousness. Potential risk factors, dose relationships and drug-drug interactions were investigated.Results.Of 1923 cancer patients treated with subcutaneous mistletoe extracts, 283 patients (14.7%) reported 427 expected effects (local reactions <5 cm and increased body temperature <38°C). ADRs were documented in 162 (8.4%) patients who reported a total of 264 events. ADRs were mild (50.8%), moderate (45.1%), or severe (4.2%). All were nonserious. Logistic regression analysis revealed that expected effects were more common in females, while immunoreactivity decreased with increasing age and tumour stage. No risk factors were identified for ADRs. ADR frequency increased as mistletoe dose increased, while fewer ADRs occurred during mistletoe therapy received concurrent with conventional therapies.Conclusion.The results of this study indicate that mistletoe therapy is safe. ADRs were mostly mild to moderate in intensity and appear to be dose-related and explained by the immune-stimulating, pharmacological activity of mistletoe.

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Impact of mistletoe therapy on the quality-of-life of cancer patients

European Journal of Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.eujim.2009.08.008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 225-226

Author(s):

M. Brandenberger ◽

P. Simoes-Wüst ◽

L. Rist ◽

R. Saller

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Mistletoe Therapy

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A Feasibility Study of the Mistletoe and Breast Cancer (MAB) Trial: A Protocol for a Randomised Double-blind Controlled Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-50668/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Susan Bryant ◽

Lorna Duncan ◽

Gene Feder ◽

Alyson Huntley

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Cochrane Review ◽

Double Blind ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

The Uk ◽

Mistletoe Therapy

Abstract Background: A Cochrane review of mistletoe therapy concludes that there is some evidence that mistletoe extracts may offer benefits on measures of quality of life during chemotherapy for breast cancer, but these results need replication. Our aim was to test the feasibility of a placebo controlled, double blind randomised controlled trial of mistletoe therapy in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Methods/design: A placebo controlled, double blind randomised controlled trial of mistletoe therapy in patients with breast cancer. There will be three arms (groups) in the trial: Iscador M, Iscador P, with physiological saline as the placebo. The aim is to recruit 45 adult patients with a new diagnosis of early or locally advanced breast cancer, up to 12 weeks following definitive breast surgery whose standard treatment plan includes chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. They will be taught to administer the MAB therapies subcutaneously and will titrate up to their optimal dose. MAB therapy will continue throughout their standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy and one month beyond. The main outcome of the MAB study is the feasibility of conducting such a trial within the NHS in order to inform a future fully powered investigative trial. Feasibility will be measured through recruitment, retention and patient experience using clinical research forms, patient diaries, cancer-related questionnaires and qualitative interviews conducted with both patients and oncology staff.Discussion: This trial is the first of its kind in the UK. Currently mistletoe therapy is mostly available through private practice in the UK. Completion of this feasibility study will support applications for further funding for a fully powered randomised controlled trial which will measure effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this herbal therapy.

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