Mistletoe Extracts Standardised in terms of Mistletoe Lectins (ML I) in Oncology: Current State of Clinical Research

Purpose: The aim of this review is to present the current state of clinical oncological research on mistletoe extracts standardised in terms of the active substance mistletoe lectin. Methods: This review focuses on studies with clearly defined mistletoe extracts standardised in terms of mistletoe lectins I, II, and III (calculated as mistletoe lectin I, ML I) which belong to the category of rational phytotherapy. That means that studies with anthroposophic or homeopathic drugs will not be included. Results: There are several preclinical studies that show a cytotoxic and immunostimulating effect of mistletoe extracts, predominantly on the cellular immune system. The clinical database, however, is not as good as the experimental results. So far, no direct anticancer action or any improvement in time to tumour progression or overall survival in cancer patients has been seen. The first results of a randomised phase III study suggest that additive administration of a mistletoe preparation may improve the quality of life. Conclusion: Mistletoe therapy has not gained an established place in oncology. Further, well-planned randomised clinical investigations will be necessary to verify the first positive findings with regard to an improvement of quality of life in cancer patients.

[1]  H. Franz.  Inhaltsstoffe der Mistel (Viscum album L.) als potentielle Arzneimittel , 1985 .

[2]  D. Lenartz,et al.  Immunoprotective activity of the galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe after tumor destructive therapy in glioma patients. , 1996, Anticancer research.

[3]  J. Jeljaszewicz,et al.  Thymocyte proliferation and maturation in response to galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin-1. , 1993, In vivo.

[4]  R. Saller,et al.  Effect of a Recombinant Lectin, Viscum album Agglutinin on the Secretion of Interleukin-12 in Cultured Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and on NK-Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Rat Splenocytes in vitro and in vivo , 1998, Natural Immunity.

[5]  D. Lenartz,et al.  Survival of glioma patients after complementary treatment with galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe. , 2000, Anticancer research.

[6]  H. Lentzen,et al.  Effects of a standardized mistletoe preparation on metastatic B16 melanoma colonization in murine lungs. , 1998, Arzneimittel-Forschung.

[7]  H. Franz,et al.  The site of action of the A‐chain of mistletoe lectin I on eukaryotic ribosomes The RNA N‐glycosidase activity of the protein , 1988, FEBS letters.

[8]  M. Krul.  Fifth NCI-EORTC Symposium on New Drugs in Cancer Therapy , 1986, Medical Oncology and Tumor Pharmacotherapy.

[9]  H. Lentzen,et al.  Stimulation of neutropoiesis by a special standardized mistletoe preparation after cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in mice. , 1996, Arzneimittel-Forschung.

[10]  H. Friess,et al.  Treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with mistletoe: results of a pilot trial. , 1996, Anticancer research.

[11]  J. Beuth,et al.  Mistletoe extract standardized for the galactoside-specific lectin (ML-1) induces beta-endorphin release and immunopotentiation in breast cancer patients. , 1994, Anticancer research.

[12]  H. Gabius,et al.  Behavior of lymphocyte subsets and expression of activation markers in response to immunotherapy with galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe in breast cancer patients , 1992, The clinical investigator.

[13]  K. Frei,et al.  Increased Secretion of Tumor Necrosis Factor α, Interleukin 1, and Interleukin 6 by Human Mononuclear Cells Exposed to β-Galactoside-specific Lectin from Clinically Applied Mistletoe Extract , 1990 .

[14]  E. Koch.  Experimentelle Untersuchungen über entzündung- und nekroseerzeugende Wirkung von Viscum album , 1938 .

[15]  J. Beuth,et al.  Correlation of immune cell activities and beta-endorphin release in breast carcinoma patients treated with galactose-specific lectin standardized mistletoe extract. , 1998, Anticancer research.

[16]  J. Kleijnen,et al.  Mistletoe treatment for cancer review of controlled trials in humans. , 1994, Phytomedicine.

[17]  H. Gabius,et al.  Influence of treatment with the immunomodulatory effective dose of the beta-galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe on tumor colonization in BALB/c-mice for two experimental model systems. , 1991, In vivo.

[18]  T. Lenarz,et al.  The effect of an adjuvant mistletoe treatment programme in resected head and neck cancer patients: a randomised controlled clinical trial. , 2001, European journal of cancer.

[19]  kolorektalen Karzinom,et al.  Lebensqualitätsstabilisierung durch Mistellektin-1 normierten Extrakt beim fortgeschrittenen kolorektalen Karzinom , 1998, Der Onkologe.

[20]  J. Beuth,et al.  [Immunoactive effects of various mistletoe lectin-1 dosages in mammary carcinoma patients]. , 1995, Arzneimittel-Forschung.

[21]  U. Mengs,et al.  Antitumoral effects of an intravesically applied aqueous mistletoe extract on urinary bladder carcinoma MB49 in mice. , 2000, Anticancer research.

[22]  H. Gabius,et al.  Clinical application of various plant and endogenous lectins to leukemia , 1988, Blut.

[23]  B.-M. Heiný,et al.  KOMPLEMENTARE THERAPIE MIT MISTELLEKTIN-1-NORMIERTEM EXTRAKT : LEBENSQUALITATSTABILISIERUNG BEIM FORTGESCHRITTENEN KOLOREKTALEN KARZINOM : FAKT ODER F IKTION ? , 1997 .