Case reports of sarcoma patients with optimized lectin-oriented and standardized mistletoe extract therapy

Background: 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. Growing evidence suggests that mistletoe lectins (ML) are able to bind appropriate pattern recognition receptors (PRR) of IL-12 producing macrophages and dendritic cells (CD75) and this binding shows some similarities with interactions between Toll-like receptors and pathogens associated molecular pattern (PAMP) ligands of microorganisms.

Objective: The aim of this presentation is showing and discussing several favorable clinical responses of tumor patients 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 tumor patients were treated with ME preparations, standardized with regard to the active sugar-binding lectin contents. An optimal dose of 0.75–1.0ng/kg ML was given subcutaneously twice a week. In these case reports the clinical progress of six sarcoma patients showed remissions of tumor size and symptoms. The duration of their optimized ME treatment varied between 2 and 22 years. In addition 27 case reports with various malignant tumors in advanced stages of their disease were with SF-36 questionnaires at four months intervals monitored for two years. The score values of quality of life (QoL) were regularly evaluated. After 12, 16, 20 and 24 months significant increases in QoL of patients were established. Particularly the tumor-related fatigue syndrome and pains were beneficially influenced.

Conclusions: It seems that tumor disease can be influenced beneficially by optimized lectin-oriented ME therapy and the sarcoma patients may attain improved balance of natural immunological mechanisms. In addition, ML – induced immunomodulation can play an important role in the improvement of QoL of tumor patients. Further clinical studies are required.