Clinical Safety of Combined Targeted and Viscum album L. Therapy in Oncological Patients

Abstract

Background: Despite improvement of tumor response rates, targeted therapy may induce toxicities in cancer patients. Recent studies indicate amelioration of adverse events (AEs) by add-on mistletoe (Viscum album L., VA) in standard oncological treatment. The primary objective of this multicenter observational study was to determine the safety profile of targeted and add-on VA therapy compared to targeted therapy alone. Methods: Demographic and medical data were retrieved from the Network Oncology registry. Allocation to either control (targeted therapy) or combinational group (targeted/add-on VA) was performed. Safety-associated variables were evaluated by adjusted multivariable analyses. Results: The median age of the study population (n = 310) at first diagnosis was 59 years; 67.4% were female. In total, 126 patients (40.6%) were in the control and 184 patients (59.4%) in the combination group. Significant differences were observed between both groups with respect to overall AE frequency (χ2 = 4.1, p = 0.04) and to discontinuation of standard oncological treatment (χ2 = 4.8, p = 0.03) with lower rates in the combinational group (20.1%, 35% respectively) compared to control (30.2%, 60.5%, respectively). Addition of VA to targeted therapy significantly reduced the probability of oncological treatment discontinuation by 70% (Odds ratio (OR) 0.30, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our results indicate a highly significant reduction of AE-induced treatment discontinuation in all-stage cancer patients when treated with VA in addition to targeted therapy.

Analysis of intrahepatic sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma: Experience from 11 cases within 17 years

“…This is an immunomodulator and somewhat different from the cytotoxic drugs, target agents, or immune checkpoint inhibitors, and it is mainly, along with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, used to increase the therapeutic effect, decrease side effects, and enhance immunity. In some papers, various positive results regarding the use of viscum album as a palliative therapy in patients with terminal cancer who do not respond to conventional chemotherapy or for those with lung cancer or accompanying malignant pleural effusion and hematologic diseases[37-39]. However, there has been no report about the therapeutic effect of this drug alone for IHCC including s-CCC.…”

Misteltherapie in der Onkologie – Update der aktuellen Forschungsergebnisse

“…In einer Studie aus der Versorgungsforschung an 43 Krebspatienten, bei der monoklonale Antikörper mit dem Mistelpräparat Helixor kombiniert wurden, war die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Nebenwirkung bei den Patienten, die nur monoklonale Antikörper erhielten, 5-mal höher (hoch signifikant) als bei den Patienten, die zusätzlich eine Misteltherapie bekamen [31]. In einer weiteren Studie an 310 Tumorpatienten war die Anzahl der Therapieabbrüche bei Patienten, die mit zielgerichteten Substanzen (monoklonalen Antikörpern, Tyrosinkinase-Inhibitoren oder Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren) und einer zusätzlichen Misteltherapie behandelt wurden, signifikant geringer [33] als unter alleiniger konventioneller Therapie.…”

Mistletoe and Immunomodulation: Insights and Implications for Anticancer Therapies

“…In a randomized phase II study with 72 advanced lung cancer patients, it was observed that chemotherapy dose reductions, grade 3-4 nonhaematological side effects, and hospitalizations occurred less frequently in patients treated with add-on VA [49]. Utilizing registry data of 310 cancer patients, in a recent observational study, we observed a significant reduction of AE-induced treatment discontinuations in cancer patients, when treated with VA applications in addition to targeted therapy [50]. Furthermore, previously we evaluated the clinical safety of ICIs with add-on VA in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer [51].…”