Mistletoe and cancer: controversies and perspectives

Extracts and preparations from the tree parasitic plant mistletoe (Viscum album L.) have been used in the treatment of cancer for decades. Numerous preclinical and in vitro studies have reported immunostimulatory, cytotoxic, and proapoptotic effects. Translation of these effects into clinical respon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSeminars in oncology Vol. 29; no. 6; p. 589
Main Author Mansky, Patrick J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.12.2002
Subjects
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Clinical Trials as Topic
Drug Interactions
Humans
Mistletoe
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Plant Extracts - therapeutic use
Quality of Life
Survival Analysis
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Extracts and preparations from the tree parasitic plant mistletoe (Viscum album L.) have been used in the treatment of cancer for decades. Numerous preclinical and in vitro studies have reported immunostimulatory, cytotoxic, and proapoptotic effects. Translation of these effects into clinical response continues to pose a problem. While a number of clinical studies have found improvement in quality of life (QOL), data on the efficacy of mistletoe to prolong survival are conflicting and of variable quality. Clinical trial data regarding the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of mistletoe components with known in vitro or preclinical activity are lacking. Mistletoe is a widely used form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer treatment, and research into its use poses the challenges of translation of preclinical data into demonstrable clinical efficacy and investigating CAM approaches as a component of complex cancer treatment systems.
ISSN:0093-7754
DOI:10.1053/sonc.2002.50006