Milazzo Stefania, Horneber Markus
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology and Hematology, Paracelsus Medical University, Klinikum Nuernberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, Nuernberg, Germany, D-90419.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 28;2015(4):CD005476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005476.pub4.
Laetrile is the name for a semi-synthetic compound which is chemically related to amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside from the kernels of apricots and various other species of the genus Prunus. Laetrile and amygdalin are promoted under various names for the treatment of cancer although there is no evidence for its efficacy. Due to possible cyanide poisoning, laetrile can be dangerous.
To assess the alleged anti-cancer effect and possible adverse effects of laetrile and amygdalin.
We searched the following databases: CENTRAL (2014, Issue 9); MEDLINE (1951-2014); EMBASE (1980-2014); AMED; Scirus; CINAHL (all from 1982-2015); CAMbase (from 1998-2015); the MetaRegister; the National Research Register; and our own files. We examined reference lists of included studies and review articles and we contacted experts in the field for knowledge of additional studies. We did not impose any restrictions of timer or language.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.
We searched eight databases and two registers for studies testing laetrile or amygdalin for the treatment of cancer. Two review authors screened and assessed articles for inclusion criteria.
We located over 200 references, 63 were evaluated in the original review, 6 in the 2011 and none in this update. However, we did not identify any studies that met our inclusion criteria.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The claims that laetrile or amygdalin have beneficial effects for cancer patients are not currently supported by sound clinical data. There is a considerable risk of serious adverse effects from cyanide poisoning after laetrile or amygdalin, especially after oral ingestion. The risk-benefit balance of laetrile or amygdalin as a treatment for cancer is therefore unambiguously negative.
苦杏仁苷是一种半合成化合物的名称，它在化学上与苦杏仁甙相关，苦杏仁甙是一种来自杏仁及李属其他多种植物种子的含氰糖苷。苦杏仁苷和苦杏仁甙以各种名称被推广用于治疗癌症，尽管没有证据表明其有效。由于可能导致氰化物中毒，苦杏仁苷可能具有危险性。
评估苦杏仁苷和苦杏仁甙所谓的抗癌作用及可能的不良反应。
我们检索了以下数据库：Cochrane系统评价数据库（2014年第9期）；医学文献数据库（1951 - 2014年）；荷兰医学文摘数据库（1980 - 2014年）；联合和补充医学数据库；Scirus；护理学与健康领域数据库（均为1982 - 2015年）；补充和替代医学数据库（1998 - 2015年）；MetaRegister；国家研究注册库；以及我们自己的资料库。我们查阅了纳入研究和综述文章的参考文献列表，并联系了该领域的专家以了解其他研究情况。我们未对时间或语言设置任何限制。
随机对照试验（RCT）和半随机对照试验。
我们在八个数据库和两个注册库中检索了测试苦杏仁苷或苦杏仁甙治疗癌症的研究。两名综述作者筛选并评估文章是否符合纳入标准。
我们找到了200多篇参考文献，63篇在原始综述中进行了评估，2011年有6篇，本次更新中没有。然而，我们未找到任何符合我们纳入标准的研究。
目前尚无可靠的临床数据支持苦杏仁苷或苦杏仁甙对癌症患者有有益作用的说法。服用苦杏仁苷或苦杏仁甙后，尤其是口服后，存在因氰化物中毒导致严重不良反应的重大风险。因此，苦杏仁苷或苦杏仁甙作为癌症治疗方法的风险效益比无疑是负面的。
