J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc.
2007 Sep;7(3):167-173.
The Immunological Effect of Mistletoe Extract on Gastric Cancer Patients
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. shinedk@seoulmc.or.kr
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Research Institute, Seoul Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Oncology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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PURPOSE: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum Q(R) was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16.
RESULTS
The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment.
CONCLUSION
It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract.
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