Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, University of Pècs, Faculty of Medicine, Pècs, Hungary.
J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):973-9. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0596.
Mistletoe (Viscum album L) extracts (ME) are widespread as immunomodulatory therapeutic agents in alternative tumor treatment. Assessing the often-controversial clinical results is rather difficult since the effects of ME on the immune system cannot be equally reproduced. Mistletoe lectins (ML) are the only mistletoe ingredients also found in vivo that are capable of having a positive effect on the immune balance of patients with tumors. Other components have only been tested in vitro, and the removal of mistletoe lectins ML from the extract can put an end to the immunological efficacy of ME. Preclinical investigations in the tumor models (using nude mice xenotransplanted with human leiomyosarcoma and interleukin-12-deficient C57BL6 mice) show that without immunological reactions, ME induce less antitumor efficacy. ML, functioning as ligands for pattern recognition receptors of the natural immune system, are docked to ganglioside molecules (CD75) of monocytes and granulocytes, thereby stimulating the natural antitumor mechanisms.
The aim of this article is to present and discuss several favorable clinical responses of patients who had sarcoma and who were treated with immunologically effective ME preparations. COURSE OF THERAPY AND RESULTS: In accordance with the bell-shaped dose-response relationship of ML, the patients with sarcoma were treated with ME preparations, standardized for the active sugar-binding lectin contents. Thus, an optimal dose of 0.75-1.0 ng/kg ML was given twice a week subcutaneously. In this report, the clinical progress of 6 patients with sarcoma showed remissions of tumor symptoms.
It seems that this disease is beneficially influenced by optimized lectin-oriented ME therapy since patients with sarcoma may react especially well to the improved balance of natural immunological mechanisms. These case reports require further clinical studies with patients with sarcoma.
槲寄生（Viscum album L）提取物（ME）作为免疫调节剂在替代肿瘤治疗中广泛应用。由于 ME 对免疫系统的影响不能同等复制，因此评估其经常有争议的临床结果相当困难。槲寄生凝集素（ML）是唯一在体内发现的槲寄生成分，能够对肿瘤患者的免疫平衡产生积极影响。其他成分仅在体外进行了测试，从提取物中去除槲寄生凝集素 ML 可以终止 ME 的免疫效力。在肿瘤模型（使用裸鼠异种移植人平滑肌肉瘤和白细胞介素-12 缺陷 C57BL6 小鼠）的临床前研究表明，没有免疫反应，ME 诱导的抗肿瘤效果较差。ML 作为天然免疫系统模式识别受体的配体，与单核细胞和粒细胞的神经节苷脂（CD75）结合，从而刺激天然抗肿瘤机制。
本文旨在介绍和讨论几例接受免疫有效 ME 制剂治疗的肉瘤患者的良好临床反应。
根据 ML 的钟形剂量反应关系，肉瘤患者接受了 ME 制剂治疗，这些制剂针对活性糖结合凝集素含量进行了标准化。因此，每周两次皮下给予 0.75-1.0ng/kg ML 的最佳剂量。在本报告中，6 例肉瘤患者的临床进展显示出肿瘤症状的缓解。
似乎这种疾病通过优化的凝集素导向 ME 治疗得到有益影响，因为肉瘤患者可能对天然免疫机制的平衡改善反应特别好。这些病例报告需要对肉瘤患者进行进一步的临床研究。
