title: Disappearance of an advanced adenomatous colon polyp after intratumoural injection with Viscum album (European mistletoe) extract: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extracts of Viscum album (European mistletoe) have immune-stimulatory and cytotoxic effects, with trials showing a well-established effect on the quality of life and prolonged survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Regression of tumours following intratumoural injection with Viscum album extract has been documented in individual cases. However, its influence on colon polyps has not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 78-year-old Caucasian male who had undergone hemi-colectomy for a stage IIIC colon cancer but who refused adjuvant chemotherapy. Five years later a newly detected high-grade dysplasia colon adenoma was discovered; however, the adenoma could not be resected endoscopically and the patient did not consent to surgery. Intratumoural injections with Viscum album L extract (Quercus; Iscador®Qu) were administered twice in an attempt to limit tumour growth. Eight months after the second intratumoural injection the adenoma had disappeared and biopsy revealed no intraepithelial dysplasia or adenoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report showing complete regression of a colon adenoma after intratumoural injection with Viscum album extract. Prospective studies should evaluate if the treatment effect is reproducible and if this approach could be a useful pre-operative measure for colon adenomas too large for endoscopic resection.
authors.affiliation: ARCIM Institute, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany;Dept of Pediatrics, Fribourg Hospital HFR, Fribourg, Switzerland. tido.von.schoenangerer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tido
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Schoen-Angerer
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goyert
authors.affiliation: ARCIM Institute, Filderklinik, Filderstadt; Dept of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Tübingen Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vagedes
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiene
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merckens
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunver S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kienle
mesh_terms: D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D028182:Viscum album
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C077177:viscum album peptide