Mistletoe extracts (Viscum album L., VAE) are widely used integrative cancer care treatments, particularly in Europe (1-5). They are an old herbal remedy (6, 7) and were introduced as cancer treatment in 1920 by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman, founders of Anthroposophic Medicine (8). Viscum album is a hemiparasitic shrub, growing on different host trees. Different preparations are available for the treatment of cancer (currently Abnobaviscum®, Helixor®, Iscador®, Iscucin® and Lektinol®). They are available from different host trees such as oak, apple, pine and many others. They are applied parenteral, particularly subcutaneous, but also intravenous, intratumoural, intrapleural, intraperitoneal and other sites.
Several pharmacologically active compounds have been isolated from VAE, such as mistletoe lectins (ML I, II and III) (9), viscotoxins (10, 11), oligo- and polysaccharides (12, 13), lipophilic extracts (14) and various others (6, 7). Currently VAE triterpenes are gaining great interest. (15-19) The most prominent properties of VAE are their cytotoxic and growth-inhibiting effects, in vitro, on a variety of human tumour cell lines, lymphocytes and fibroblasts (6, 7). The cytotoxic effects of VAE are mainly due to the apoptosis-inducing mistletoe lectins (20-22), while the viscotoxins induce necrotic cell death (21, 23). VAE are also recognized for their immune-modulating activity: In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated activation of monocytes/macrophages, granulocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, NK-cell mediated tumor cell lysis, T-cells (especially T-helper-cells) and the induction of various cytokines (6, 7, 24). VAE also downregulate tumor genes, reduce motility and invasiveness of tumor cells [24), and show antiangiogenetic effects [25). They also possess DNA stabilizing properties, they reduce chromosome damage and improve DNA repair (26-29]. In animals, VAE displays potent antitumour effects when administered either directly into the tumour or systemically (6, 7, 30).
Clinical effectiveness of mistletoe extracts in cancer has been investigated in a great number of studies, among these 43 prospective randomized controlled trials (31-80): They predominantly report significant clinical benefits. With regard to quality of studies and consistency of results, the best evidence concerning efficacy of mistletoe therapy exists for the improvement of quality of life, increase of weight, and improved tolerability of cytoreductive therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery) (33, 81, 82). Regarding survival, a well-designed randomized controlled trial has recently shown a highly significant benefit in advanced pancreatic cancer (32). Other studies showed similar results (30, 83-85). Effectiveness seems to depend on the duration of the mistletoe therapy, in addition to factors relating to dosage, host tree and choice of preparation. Tumour remissions have been repeatedly observed after local application of high dose mistletoe extracts. This finding is consistent with the preclinical research on cytotoxicity and treatment of tumors in animals. During customary low-dose mistletoe therapy, tumour remissions are rare exceptions. Tumor remissions have therefore been reported primarily in small studies, case series and single cases. (e.g. (30, 84, 86-96))
According to highly experienced practitioners much improved outcomes are possible, with highly individualized and comprehensive treatment schedules – individually adjusted and with selected dosage, preparation, host tree, injection site, time schedule of administration, and supplementation with other interventions. This still needs to be investigated. (97, 98)
Currently, several interesting trials have been started: One large publicly funded confirmative (phase III) randomized controlled trial investigating the influence of mistletoe treatment on survival and health-related quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, conducted at several cancer centers in Sweden (NCT02948309). One phase I trial on safety of intravenous mistletoe infusions in various cancers, conducted at the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (NCT03051477 [99)), funded by the charity organization Believe Big (www.believebig.org). And one large confirmative (phase III) randomized controlled on the efficacy and safety of intravesical mistletoe extract conpared to Mitomycin instillation in superficial bladder cancer, conducted in more than 30 German study sites. (100)
Clinical application of mistletoe extracts is safe, even in high dosages (6, 7, 101-106).
March 2017
Dr. med. Gunver S. Kienle
IFAEMM Freiburg at the Witten Herdecke University
Center for Complementary Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg
References
Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients : a European survey. Ann Oncol 2005; 16(4), pp. 655
Complementary medicine in cancer patients : demand, patients' attitudes and psychological beliefs. Onkologie 1998; 21, pp. 144-149
Komplementäre Maßnahmen bei Patientinnen mit gynäkologischen Malignomen unter Chemo- und Hormontherapie : Bestandsaufnahme und kritische Überlegungen für die Praxis. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2001; 61, pp. 75-78
Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer : A population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany. Eur J Cancer 2008; 44(15), pp. 2233-2240
Association of complementary methods with quality of life and life satisfaction in patients with gynecologic and breast malignancies. Support Care Cancer 2007; 55(11), pp. 1277-1284
Die Mistel in der Onkologie : Fakten und konzeptionelle Grundlagen. Stuttgart, New York: Schattauer Verlag 2003;
Mistletoe. : The Genus Viscum Amsterdam: Hardwood Academic Publishers 2000;
Anthroposophic Medicine : Effectiveness, Utility, Costs, Safety. Stuttgart, New York: Schattauer Verlag 2006;
Isolation and properties of three lectins from mistletoe ( Viscum album L.). Biochemical Journal 1981; 195, pp. 481-484
Viscotoxin, ein neuer Inhaltsstoff der Mistel ( Viscum album L.). Liebigs Ann Chem 1948; 561, pp. 107-115
Zur Chemie des blutdrucksenkenden Bestandteils der Mistel. (Viscum album). Arch Pharm 1942; 280, pp. 103-115
A Viscum album oligosaccharide activating human natural cytotoxicity is an interferon gamma inducer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1990; 32, pp. 221-227
Activation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity of human blood monocytes by a low molecular weight component from Viscum album extract. (2. ed.) Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 1989; 39(12), pp. 1580-1585
Apoptosis inducing activity of viscin, a lipophilic extract from Viscum album Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2005; 57, pp. 101-109
Triterpenoids amplify anti-tumoral effects of mistletoe extracts on murine B16.f10 melanoma in vivo. PLoS One 2013; 8(4), pp. e62168
A novel triterpene extract from mistletoe induces rapid apoptosis in murine B16.F10 melanoma cells. Phytother Res 2012; 26(10), pp. 1507-1512
A new development of triterpene acid-containing extracts from Viscum album L. displays synergistic induction of apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cell Prolif 2012; 45(2), pp. 176-187
ViscumTT induces apoptosis and alters IAP expression in osteosarcoma in vitro and has synergistic action when combined with different chemotherapeutic drugs. BMC Complement Altern Med 2017; 17(1), pp. 26
Multiple Active Compounds from Viscum album L. Synergistically Converge to Promote Apoptosis in Ewing Sarcoma. PLoS One 2016; 11(9), pp. e0159749
Induction of apoptosis by the mistletoe lectins : a review on the mechanisms of cytotoxicity mediated by Viscum album L. Apoptosis 1996; (1), pp. 25-32
Expression of mitochondrial Apo2.7 molecules and Caspase-3 activation in human lymphocytes treated with the ribosome-inhibiting mistletoe lectins and the cell membrane permeabilizing viscotoxins. Cytometry 1999; 37(2), pp. 133-139
In vitro effects of mistletoe extracts and mistletoe lectins. : Cytotoxicity towards tumor cells due to the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). (2. ed.) Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 1993; 43(11), pp. 1221-1227
Generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) by the thionins from Viscum album L.. Anticancer Res 1998; 8, pp. 4291-4296
Fermented mistletoe extract as a multimodal antitumoral agent in gliomas. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012; pp. 501796
Antiangiogenic properties of Viscum album extracts are associated with endothelial cytotoxicity. Anticancer Res 2009; 29(8), pp. 2945
Viscum album L. extracts reduce sister chromatid exchanges in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Eur J Cancer 1994; 30(12), pp. 1836-1841
Suppression of sister chromatid exchange-inducing DNA lesions in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells by Viscum album L. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 1996; 15, pp. 107-114
Effects of Viscum album L. on cyclophosphamide-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro : sister chromatid exchanges and activation/proliferation marker expression. Cancer Letters 1995; 94, pp. 199-205
Improvement of DNA repair in lymphocytes of breast cancer patients treated with Viscum album extract (Iscador). Eur J Cancer 1991; 27(12), pp. 1672-1676
Viscum album L. extracts in breast and gynaecologic cancers : A systematic review of clinical and preclinical research. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2009; 28(79),
doi:10.1186/1756-9966-1128-1179Mistletoe preparation (Viscum Fraxini-2) as palliative treatment for malignant pleural effusion : a feasibility study with comparison to bleomycin. Ecancermedicalscience 2014; 8, pp. 424
Viscum album [L.] extract therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer : a randomised clinical trial on overall survival. Eur J Cancer 2013; 49(18), pp. 3788-3797
Quality of life of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during treatment with mistletoe-a randomized controlled trial. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2014; 111(28), pp. 493-502
Mistletoe as complementary treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with carboplatin-based combinations : A randomised phase II study. Eur J Cancer 2013; 49(5), pp. 1058-1064
Misteltherapie bei nichtkleinzelligem Bronchialkarzinom. Randomisierte, offene Phase-II- Studie zur Untersuchung der Verträglichkeit und Wirksamkeit von Viscum-album-Extrakt in der palliativen, additiven Behandlung des fortgeschrittenen nichtkleinzelligen Berlin: GKH Havelhöhe, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der medizinischen Fakultät der Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin 2010;
Randomisierte, offene Phase-II-Studie zur Untersuchung von Viscum album-Extrakt in der palliativen, additiven Behandlung des fortgeschrittenen nichtkleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinoms (NSCLC). Essen: KVC Verlag Die Mistel in der Tumortherapie 3 Aktueller Stand der Forschung und klinische Anwendung. 2013; pp. 389-401
edn. Edited by Scheer R, Alban S, Becker H, Blaschek W, Kreis W, Matthes H, Schilcher H, Stange R.A Randomized Study on Postrelapse Disease-Free Survival with Adjuvant Mistletoe versus Oral Etoposide in Osteosarcoma Patients. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014; pp. 210198
Quality of life, immunomodulation and safety of adjuvant mistletoe treatment in patients with gastric carcinoma : a randomized, controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med 2012; 12(1), pp. 172
Kontrollierte Studien zur präventiven Misteltherapie bei Myomen, Endometriosen und Cervix Dysplasie. Essen: KVC Verlag Die Mistel in der Tumortherapie 2 - Aktueller Stand der Forschung und klinische Anwendung. edn. Edited by Scheer R, Alban S, Becker H, Holzgrabe U, Kemper FH, Kreis W, Matthes H, Schilcher F. 2009; pp. 537-550
Viscum Fraxini 2, as an adjuvant therapy after resection of superficial bladder cancer : Prospective clinical randomized study. Abstract P8. In. 2009; pp. 120
Quality of life and neutropenia in patients with early stage breast cancer : A randomized pilot study comparing additional treatment with mistletoe extract to chemotherapy alone Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research 2009; 3, pp. 35-45
Additional therapy with mistletoe extracts in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy : a prospective randomized open label pilot study. Essen: KVC Verlag Die Mistel in der Tumortherapie 2 - Aktueller Stand der Forschung und klinische Anwendung. edn. Edited by Scheer R, Alban S, Becker H, Holzgrabe U, Kemper FH, Kreis W, Matthes H, Schilcher H. 2009; pp. 509-521
Five-Year Follow-Up of patients with early stage Breast cancer After a Randomized study comparing Additional Treatment with Viscum Album (L.) extract to chemotherapy Alone. Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research 2012; 6, pp. 173
Additional therapy with a mistletoe product during adjuvant chemotherapy ofbreast cancer patients improves quality of life. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014;
In press.Modulation of chemotherapy-associated immunosuppression by intravenous application of Viscum album L. extract (Iscador) : a randomised phase II study. . Eur J Integr Med 2008; 1, pp. S44-S45
Randomized and non-randomized prospective controlled cohort studies in matched pair design for the long-term therapy of corpus uteri cancer patients with a mistletoe preparation (Iscador). Eur J Med Res 2008; 13, pp. 107-120
Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of ovarian cancer patients with mistletoe ( Viscum album L.) extracts Iscador. Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 2007; 57(10), pp. 665-678
Wirksamkeit und Unbedenklichkeit einer Langzeitbehandlung von Melanompatienten mit einem Mistelpräparat (Iscador© ) Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Ganzheitsmedizin 2007; 19, pp. 325-332
Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of cervical cancer patients with a mistletoe preparation (Iscador©) Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2007; 14, pp. 140-147
Mistletoe extract reduces the surgical suppression of natural killer cell activity in cancer patients. : A randomized phase III trial. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2007; 14(1), pp. 9-17
Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of breast cancer patients with a mistletoe preparation (Iscador). Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2006; 13, pp. 285-292
Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of breast cancer patients with a mistletoe preparation (Iscador) Supplementary materials. In. 2006;
Signifikant höherer Anteil aktivierter NK-Zellen durch additive Misteltherapie bei chemotherapierten Mamma-Ca-Patientinnen in einer prospektiven randomisierten doppelblinden Studie. Essen: KVC Verlag Fortschritte in der Misteltherapie Aktueller Stand der Forschung und klinischen Anwendung. edn. Edited by Scheer R, Bauer R, Becker H, Fintelmann V, Kemper FH, Schilcher H. 2005; pp. 543-554
Perioperative application of the Viscum album extract Isorel in digestive tract cancer patients. Anticancer Res 2005; 25, pp. 4583-4590
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Group trial experience with more than 2,000 patients, evaluating adjuvant treatment with low or intermediate doses of interferon alpha-2b. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book. edn. Edited by American Society of Clinical O. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2001; pp. 88-93
Final results of the EORTC 18871/DKG 80-1 randomised phase III trial: rIFN-à2b versus rIFN- g versus Iscador M versus observation after surgery in melanoma patients with either high-risk primary (thickness >3mm) or regional lymph node metastasis. Eur J Cancer 2004; 40, pp. 390-402
Impact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality of life in breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer patients. : A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Anticancer Res 2004; 24(1), pp. 303-309
The influence of Isorel on the advanced colorectal cancer. Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals 2003; 18(1), pp. 27-34
Evaluation of the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing lectin standardized mistletoe therapy. Minerva Medica 2001; 92(1), pp. 105-107
Use of Iscador, an extract of European mistletoe ( Viscum album ), in cancer treatment : prospective nonrandomized and randomized matched-pair studies nested within a cohort study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2001; 7(3), pp. 57-78
Comparative study on the effects of a Viscum album (L.) extract (mistletoe) and doxycycline for pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusion. : 51th Meeting of The Korean Association of Internal Medicine. Translation by Helixor Heilmittel GmbH. Korean Journal of Medicine 1999; 57(2), pp. S121
Krebszusatztherapie beim fortgeschrittenen nicht-kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinom. Stuttgart, New York: Georg Thieme Verlag 1991;
Adjuvante Iscador-Behandlung operierter nicht kleinzelliger Bronchuskarzinome. Dtsch Z Onkol 1991; 23(4), pp. 93-98
Prospektive Studie beim radikal operierten Mammakarzinom mit Polychemotherapie, Helixor und unbehandelter Kontrolle. Dtsch Z Onkol 1988; (4), pp. 94-100
30 Jahre Erfahrung mit der Misteltherapie an Öffentlichen Krankenanstalten. Stuttgart: Verlag Freies Geistesleben Misteltherapie Eine Antwort auf die Herausforderung Krebs. edn. Edited by Leroi R. 1987; pp. 173-215
Ergebnisse einer prospektiv randomisierten Studie : Chemotherapie versus Chemotherapie plus "Biological Response Modifier" bei metastasierendem kolorektalen Karzinom. Krebsgeschehen 1986; 18(6), pp. 155-163
Modulation der subjektiven und objektiven Toxizität einer aggressiven Chemotherapie mit Helixor. Unpublished Report. In. 1985;
Adjuvante Iscador-Behandlung nach operiertem Magenkarzinom : Ergebnisse einer randomisierten Studie. Krebsgeschehen 1983; 15(4), pp. 106-110
Prospektiv randomisierte Studie : Operiertes Magenkarzinom - Adjuvante Behandlung mit Iscador. Dtsch Z Onkol 1988; 20(4), pp. 90-93
Randomisierte Studie über medikamentöse Rezidivprophylaxe mit 5-Fluorouracil und Iscador beim resezierten Magenkarzinom : Ergebnisse einer Zwischenauswertung. Krebsgeschehen 1979; 11(5), pp. 130-131
The effect of an adjuvant mistletoe treatment programme in resected head and neck cancer patients : a randomised controlled clinical trial. Eur J Cancer 2001; 37, pp. 23-31
dditive Therapie mit standardisiertem Mistelextrakt reduziert die Leukopenie und verbessert die Lebensqualität von Patientinnen mit fortgeschrittenem Mammakarzinom unter palliativer Chemotherapie (VEC-Schema). Krebsmedizin 1991; 12, pp. 1-14
SonderdruckKomplementäre Therapie mit Mistellektin-1-normiertem Extrakt : Lebensqualitätsstabilisierung beim fortgeschrittenen kolorektalen Karzinom - Fakt oder Fiktion? Die Medizinische Welt 1997; 48, pp. 419-423
Survival of glioma patients after complementary treatment with galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe. Anticancer Res 2000; 20, pp. 2073-2076
Immunoprotective activity of the galactoside-specific lectin from Mistletoe after tumor destructive therapy in glioma patients. Anticancer Res 1996; 16, pp. 3799-3802
Interferon à, interleukin 2 and 5-flourouracil compared with mistletoe lectin in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). European Urology 2000; 37(2), pp. 152
Interferon-a, interleukin-2 and 5-fluorouracil versus mistletoe lectin in metastatic renal cell carcinoma : Long-term results. European Urology 2001; 39(5), pp. 121
Evaluation of an unconventional treatment modality with mistletoe lectin to prevent recurrence of superficial bladder cancer : a randomized phase II trial. The Journal of Urology 2002; 168, pp. 72-75
The standardised mistletoe extract PS76A2 improves QoL in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant CMF chemotherapy : a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial. Res 2004 w/o y.; 24, pp. 1293-1302
Quality of life is improved in breast cancer patients by Standardised Mistletoe Extract PS76A2 during chemotherapy and follow-up : a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial. Anticancer Res 2006; 26, pp. 1519-1530
Influence of Viscum Album L (European Mistletoe) Extracts on Quality of Life in Cancer Patients : A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Studies. Integr Cancer Ther 2010; 9(2), pp. 142-157
Mistletoe therapy in oncology. Cochrane DatabaseSyst Rev 2008; (2), pp. CD003297
Mistletoe in cancer : a systematic review on controlled clinical trials. Med Res 2003; 8, pp. 109-119
Complementary cancer therapy : a systematic review of prospective clinical trials on anthroposophic mistletoe extracts. EurJ Med Res 2007; 12(3), pp. 103-119
Clinical research on anthroposophic medicine : update of a health technology assessment report and status quo. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2011; 18(5), pp. 269-282
Phase II study of viscum fraxini-2 in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2004; 90, pp. 65-69
Significant tumor reduction, improvement of pain and quality of life and normalization of sleeping patterns of cancer patients treated with a high dose of mistletoe. Ann Oncol 1998; 9, pp. 129
Multicenter open labeled clinical study in advanced breast cancer patients : A preliminary report. Journal of the Egyptian NatCancer Inst 1999; 11(3), pp. 221-227
Therapeutic use of mistletoe for CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder / lymphomatoid papulosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2006; 21, pp. 1-2
Tumour response following high-dose intratumoural application of Viscum album on a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. BMJ Case Reports 2014;
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-203180Durable Response of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Following High-dose Peri-lesional Injections of Viscum album Extracts : A Case Report. Phytomedicine 2013; 20, pp. 324-327
Durable tumour responses following primary high-dose induction with mistletoe extracts : Two case reports. Eur J Integr Med 2010; 2, pp. 63-69
Durable Regression of Primary Cutaneous B-cell Lymphoma following Fever-inducing Mistletoe Treatment : Two Case Reports. Glob Adv Health Med 2012; 1(1), pp. 16-23
High-Dose Viscum album Extract Treatment in the Prevention of Recurrent Bladder Cancer : A Retrospective Case Series. Perm J 2015; 19(4), pp. 76-83
Successful treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma with Viscum album extract (Iscador M). J Altern Complement Med 2007; 13(4), pp. 443-445
Mistletoe Plant Extract in Patients with Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer : Results of a Phase Ib/IIa Single Group Dose Escalation Study. J Urol 2015; 194(4), pp. 939-943
Intravenous Mistletoe Treatment in Integrative Cancer Care : A Qualitative Study Exploring the Procedures, Concepts, and Observations of Expert Doctors. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2016; pp. 4628287
Individualized Integrative Cancer Care in Anthroposophic Medicine : A Qualitative Study of the Concepts and Procedures of Expert Doctors. Integr Cancer Ther 2016;
Are mistletoe extract injections the next big thing in cancer therapy? ohns Hopkins Magazine 2014;
Study on the treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer : A phase III efficacy study for intravesical instillation of mistletoe extract in superficial bladder cancer (TIM) AB 40/11 of the AUO. Urologe A 2015; 54(3), pp. 406-408
Safety of higher dosages of Viscum album L. in animals and humans : systematic review of immune changes and safety parameters. BMC Complement Altern Med 2011; 11(1), pp. 72
Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum album L.) in Cancer Patients. EvidBased Complement AlternatMed 2014; pp. 724258
Use and safety of intratumoral application of European mistletoe (Viscum album L) preparations in Oncology. Integr Cancer Ther 2015; 14(2), pp. 140-148
Safety of Intravenous Application of Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) Preparations in Oncology : An Observational Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014; pp. 236310
Toxic proteins from European mistletoe (Viscum album L. ) : increase of intracellular IL-4 but decrease of IFN- g in apoptic cells. Anticancer Res 2000; 20, pp. 1673-1678
Adverse effects during therapy with mistletoe extracts. Amsterdam: Hardwood Academic Publishers Mistletoe The Genus Viscum edn. Edited by Büssing A. 2000; pp. 195-208
Exemplary literature
Tröger W, Galun D, Reif M, Schumann A, Stankovic N, Milicevic M: Quality of life of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during treatment with mistletoe – a randomized controlled trial. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2014, 111:493-502
http://www.aerzteblatt.de/pdf.asp?id=161151
Tröger W, Galun D, Reif M, Schumann A, Stankovic N, Milicevic M: Viscum album [L.] extract therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: a randomised clinical trial on overall survival. Eur J Cancer 2013, 49:3788-3797
http://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049%2813%2900550-9/pdf
Mansky PJ, Wallerstedt DB, Sannes TS, Stagl J, Johnson LL, Blackman MR, Grem JL, Swain SM, Monahan BP: NCCAM/NCI Phase 1 Study of Mistletoe Extract and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 2013: 964592
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/964592
Mabed M, El-Helw L, Sharma S: Phase II study of viscum fraxini-2 in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2004, 90:65-69
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2395314/
Piao BK, Wang YX, Xie GR, Mansmann U, Matthes H, Beuth J, Lin HS: Impact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality of life in breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer patients. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Anticancer Res 2004, 24:303-309
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5390410_Impact_of_Complementary_Mistletoe_Extract_Treatment_on_Quality_of_Life_in_Breast_Ovarian_and_Non-small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Patients_A_Prospective_Randomized_Controlled_Clinical_Trial
Semiglasov VF, Stepula VV, Dudov A, Schnitker J, Mengs U: Quality of life is improved in breast cancer patients by Standardised Mistletoe Extract PS76A2 during chemotherapy and follow-up: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial. Anticancer Res 2006, 26:1519-1530
http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/2B/1519.full.pdf
Kienle GS, Grugel R, Kiene H: Safety of higher dosages of Viscum album L. in animals and humans - systematic review of immune changes and safety parameters.BMC Complement Altern Med 2011, 11:72
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6882-11-72.pdf
Kienle GS, Glockmann A, Schink M, Kiene H: Viscum album L. extracts in breast and gynaecological cancers: a systematic review of clinical and preclinical research. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research: CR 2009, 28:79
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1756-9966-28-79.pdf
Kienle GS, Kiene H:Complementary cancer therapy: a systematic review of prospective clinical trials on anthroposophic mistletoe extracts. Eur J Med Res 2007, 12:103-119
http://www.daig-net.de/site-content/die-daig/fachorgan/2007-1/ejomr-2007_3-pdfs/S.103_Kienle.pdf
Kienle GS, Kiene H: Influence of Viscum Album L (European Mistletoe) Extracts on Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Studies. Integr Cancer Ther 2010, 9:142-157
http://ict.sagepub.com/content/9/2/142.long