Antitumorous and immunomodulatory effects of the Viscum album L. preparation Isorel.

There are numerous data on the immunostimulative and antitumorous activity of various Viscum album tissue extracts. Isorel (Novipharm, Austria) is one of these compounds. We found that in mice an increased number of plaque-forming cells to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) followed the injection of Isorel together with SRBC. Further, survival time of a foreign skin graft was shortened if Isorel was applied at the correct time. Finally, suppressed immune reactivity in tumorous mice recovered following Isorel injection. Isorel was further shown to be cytotoxic to tumor cells in vitro. Its application to tumor-bearing mice could prolong their life but without any therapeutic effect. However, a combination of local irradiation and Isorel was very effective: following 43 Gy of local irradiation to a transplanted methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (volume about 240 mm3) growing in syngeneic CBA/HZgr mice, the tumor disappeared in about 25% of the animals; the addition of Isorel increased the incidence of cured animals to over 65%. The combined action of Isorel, influencing tumor viability on the one hand and the host's immune reactivity on the other, seems to be favorable for its antitumor action in vivo.