Improvement of DNA repair in lymphocytes of breast cancer patients treated with VISCUM ALBUM extracts (Iscador)

Journal/Book: Eur. J. Cancer 27 (12), 1672-1676. 1991;

Abstract: We investigated alteration in DNA repair during therapy with animmunomodulator. 14 patients with advanced breast cancer were treatedparenterally with Iscador, an extract of Viscum album (mistletoe). As aparameter for measurement of DNA repair the incorporation of (3H)thymidine into DNA of unstimulated lymphocytes after ultra violet light(UV) damage was taken. The DNA repair values in the patients were verylow before treatment and on day 1: on average 16% of those in a healthycontrol population. Values started to increase on day 2 and on days 7-9were on average 2.7 times higher than before treatment. 12/14 patientsshowed an improvement in repair. The values of spontaneous DNA synthesiswere not altered during the treatment. We suggest that the increase ofDNA repair could be due to a stimulation of repair enzymes bylymphokines or cytokines secreted by activated leukocytes or analteration in the susceptibility to exogenic agents resulting in lessdamage. Author.

Keyword(s): ADULT

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