Kann die Misteltherapie anhand von Zytokinwirkungen interpretiert werden?

Abstract: Cytokines - signalling molecules of cellular communication - are considered of major relevance in modern oncology. From cytokine induction even conclusions are drawn concerning the efficacy or concerning the potential danger of tumor therapies. These conclusions are sometimes attributed with more weight than direct observations of antitumoral effects. However, These conclusions are contradicted by the results of cytokine research itself.A comprehensive literature search on cytokine effects on cell biology - relevant for mistletoe treatment such as TNF-A and IL-6 displays a contextual dependency of cytokine effects on cell biology. Cytokines often cause opposite effects on tumor cells, depending on the very context. In vitro effects cannot be extrapolated to other in vitro experiments with the same cytokine. Effects of cytokines are modulated by the presence of other cytokines, and in vivo effects are often contradictory to in vitro effects. Finally, the results from exogenous cytokine application have little significance for an endogenous cytokine induction.Thus, the contradictory and contextual effects of cytokines do not substantiate conclusions concerning the clinical effects - or concerning Tumor enhancement - of cytokine inducing therapies, such as mistletoe therapy. Such conclusions are unfounded speculations. The clinical status of mistletoe therapy cannot be derived from experimental cytokine effects. Antitumoral effects must be evaluated directly at the tumor (in vitro, in vivo, at the patient).

Keyword(s): Misteltherapie

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