Mistletoe (Iscador) therapy in stage IV renal adenocarcinoma. A phase II study with measurable lung metastases

Journal/Book: Acta Oncologica 28 (4), 489-494. 1989;

Abstract: The public interest in alternative cancer therapy is considerable. Sincethe 1920s advocators of anthroposophical medicine have postulated ahighly significant effect of mistletoe plant extracts on life qualityand survival of patients with most solid tumours. Fourteen patients, 8men and 6 women, median age 65, range 47-74 years, with earlieruntreated histologically verified renal adenocarcinoma stage IV andclearly measurable lung metastases were treated with subcutaneousinjections of Iscador every second day in escalating doses over 3 weeksfollowed by maintenance therapy 20, 30, and 50 mg/ml on respective days.Patients were evaluated monthly and disease status classified accordingto WHO criteria. No response was demonstrated. 2/14 patients diedwithout change of the disease (NC) after 30 and 60 days respectively.The median time to progressive disease (PD) was 108 days, range 33-348days. First site of PD was lungs in 10/12, outside lungs in 2/12patients. All patients have died. The median survival was 330 days,range 44-694, which in a retrospective comparison was quite similar toearlier phase 2 studies in the same type of patients. Apart from localreactions around the injection sites and moderate fever on the day ofinjection the treatment was well tolerated with no major toxicities. Itis concluded that Iscador under the conditions chosen for the study hadno objective or life prolonging effects postulated for most solid tumourtypes by advocators of anthrosophy.

Keyword(s): Medical:kidney-carcinoma /drug therapy

Zurück | Weiter