von Schoen-Angerer Tido, Wilkens Johannes, Kienle Gunver S, Kiene Helmut, Vagedes Jan
Research Associate for the ARCIM Institute in Filderstadt, Germany, and an Attending Pediatrician at the Fribourg Hospital in Switzerland.
Attending Physician at the Alexander von Humboldt Klinik in Bad Steben, Germany.
Perm J. 2015 Fall;19(4):76-83. doi: 10.7812/TPP/15-018.
Viscum album extract (European mistletoe), containing immuno-active compounds with dose-dependent cytotoxic activity, is being used as an adjuvant cancer treatment in Europe. Few studies have yet been done with high-dose, fever-inducing Viscum album treatment.
To explore whether subcutaneous injections of high-dose Viscum album have a preventive effect on risk of recurrence of bladder cancer.
We retrospectively analyzed the case records of patients with resectable bladder cancer who underwent initiation of high-dose Viscum album treatment at our clinic between January 2006 and December 2012.
We calculated tumor recurrence and progression risk and explored case records to assess whether treatment had a likely, possible, or unlikely beneficial effect.
Eight patients were identified, 7 of whom had nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer and 1 with muscle-invasive cancer. Four patients had frequently recurring tumors before treatment. Among the 8 patients, 28 episodes of recurrence were observed. Median tumor-free follow-up duration was 48.5 months. High-dose Viscum album showed a possible beneficial effect in 5 of 8 patients, could not be assessed in 2 patients, and had an uncertain effect in 1 patient. No tumor progression was observed. Treatment was generally well tolerated and no patient stopped treatment because of side effects.
High-dose Viscum album treatment may have interrupted frequently recurring tumors in individual patients with recurrent bladder cancer. Prospective studies are needed to assess whether this treatment offers an additional, bladder-sparing preventive option for patients with intermediate- to high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer.. Treatment was generally well tolerated and no patient stopped treatment because of side effects.
欧洲槲寄生提取物（欧洲槲寄生）含有具有剂量依赖性细胞毒性活性的免疫活性化合物，在欧洲正被用作癌症辅助治疗药物。关于高剂量、可引起发热的欧洲槲寄生治疗的研究尚少。
探讨皮下注射高剂量欧洲槲寄生对膀胱癌复发风险是否具有预防作用。
我们回顾性分析了2006年1月至2012年12月期间在我们诊所开始接受高剂量欧洲槲寄生治疗的可切除膀胱癌患者的病例记录。
我们计算了肿瘤复发和进展风险，并查阅病例记录以评估治疗是否具有可能、或许或不太可能的有益效果。
共确定8例患者，其中7例为非肌层浸润性膀胱癌，1例为肌层浸润性癌。4例患者在治疗前肿瘤频繁复发。在这8例患者中，观察到28次复发事件。无瘤中位随访时间为48.5个月。高剂量欧洲槲寄生在8例患者中的5例显示出可能的有益效果，2例无法评估，1例效果不确定。未观察到肿瘤进展。治疗一般耐受性良好，没有患者因副作用而停止治疗。
高剂量欧洲槲寄生治疗可能中断了个别复发性膀胱癌患者频繁复发的肿瘤。需要进行前瞻性研究来评估这种治疗是否为中高危非肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者提供了一种额外的、保留膀胱的预防选择。治疗一般耐受性良好，没有患者因副作用而停止治疗。
