Course of mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes in cancer patients treated with Viscum album extracts.
BACKGROUND
In a prospective observational study, the impact of two different dose regimes of a commercially available fermented Viscum album L. extract (VA-E, Iscador) on the function of T lymphocytes from cancer patients was investigated.


METHODS
A total of 71 cancer patients were enrolled. These patients attended two different sections of a tumor outpatient clinic which are used to apply different VA-E escalation schemes. Our hypothesis was that a rapid dose escalation of subcutaneously applied VA-E may induce strong local reactions at the injection side (>3 cm diameter) and may have an effect on the functional competence of T lymphocytes (mitogen-activated interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain), which was recorded over an observation period of six month.


RESULTS
Within this observation period, a decline of stimulated T cell function was observed, particularly in patients with colorectal or prostate cancer; this decline was not seen in patients with breast cancer (who received lower mean concentrations per month) nor in patients with dose adaptation in response to too strong local reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
With respect to T-cell function, our results indicate that in patients without local reactions, a long lasting mistletoe extract application should be withheld periodically to allow T-cell reactivity to recover.
Büssing
A
A
Krebsforschung Herdecke, Department of Applied Immunology, Bochum, Germany. arndt.buessing@uni-wh.de
Stumpf
C
C
Tröger
W
W
Schietzel
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D028182:Viscum album / Q000737:chemistry*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C077177:viscum album peptide