Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T09:01:56.623Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The case for mistletoe in the treatment of laryngeal cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2014

M Shakeel ,
A Trinidade ,
S Geider  and
K W Ah-See
M Shakeel
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
A Trinidade*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, England, UK
S Geider
Affiliation:
Camphill Wellbeing Trust, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
K W Ah-See
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Aaron Trinidade, ENT Department, James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth NR31 6LA, UK E-mail: aarontrinidade@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Complementary and alternative medicine usage, though rising, remains largely devoid of a sound scientific basis; however, there is increasing evidence to support its use in cancer therapy.

Aim:

To present the case of a patient with laryngeal carcinoma who made a full recovery following mistletoe therapy, despite failing to respond to chemoradiotherapy and salvage laryngectomy.

Design:

Case report with relevant literature review.

Results:

The patient developed extensive, unresectable stomal recurrence, and it was deemed appropriate to supply palliative care only. Following treatment with mistletoe extract injections after palliative radiotherapy, he recovered fully and was eventually discharged from care.

Conclusion:

The benefit of mistletoe in laryngeal cancer treatment requires further investigation, and might be considered in selected patients, as an adjunct or when other conventional therapies have failed.

Keywords

MistletoeLaryngeal NeoplasmsCarcinomaComplementary Medicine
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 3 , March 2014 , pp. 302 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Horneber, MA, Bueschel, G, Huber, R, Linde, K, Rostock, M. Mistletoe therapy in oncology. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;(2):CD003297Google Scholar
2Büssing, A, Raak, C, Ostermann, T. Quality of life and related dimensions in cancer patients treated with mistletoe extract (iscador): a meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:219402Google Scholar
3Klopp, R, Schmidt, W, Werner, E, Werner, M, Niemer, W, Beuth, J. Influence of complementary Viscum album (Iscador) administration on microcirculation and immune system of ear, nose and throat carcinoma patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Anticancer Res 2005;25:601–10Google Scholar
4Huber, R, Ludtke, H, Wieber, J, Beckmann, C. Safety and effects of two mistletoe preparations on production of Interleukin-6 and other immune parameters – a placebo controlled clinical trial in healthy subjects. BMC Complement Altern Med 2011;11:116Google Scholar
5Finall, AI, McIntosh, SA, Thompson, WD. Subcutaneous inflammation mimicking metastatic malignancy induced by injection of mistletoe extract. BMJ 2006;333:1293–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Pryme, IF, Bardocz, S, Pusztai, A, Ewen, SW. Suppression of growth of tumour cell lines in vitro and tumours in vivo by mistletoe lectins. Histol Histopathol 2006;21:285–99Google Scholar
7Schöffski, P, Riggert, S, Fumoleau, P, Campone, M, Bolte, O, Marreaud, S et al. Phase I trial of intravenous aviscumine (rViscumin) in patients with solid tumors: a study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer New Drug Development Group. Ann Oncol 2004;15:1816–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Orange, M, Fonseca, M, Lace, A, von Laue, H-B, Geider, S. Durable tumour responses following primary high dose induction with mistletoe extracts: two case reports. Eur J Interg Med 2010;2; 63–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Sáenz, MT, Ahumada, MC, García, MD. Extracts from Viscum and Crataegus are cytotoxic against larynx cancer cells. Z Naturforsch C 1997;52:42–4Google Scholar
10Featherstone, C, Godden, D, Gault, C, Emslie, M, Took-Zozaya, M. Prevalence study of concurrent use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients attending primary care services in Scotland. Am J Public Health 2003;93:1080–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed