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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

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01-03-2019 | Review – Clinical Oncology

Mistletoe in oncological treatment: a systematic review

Part 1: survival and safety

Authors: M. Freuding, C. Keinki, O. Micke, J. Buentzel, Jutta Huebner

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Mistletoe treatment of cancer patients is discussed highly controversial in the scientific literature. Aim of this systematic review is to give an extensive overview about current state of research concerning mistletoe therapy of oncologic patients regarding survival, quality of life and safety.

Methods

In September and October 2017 Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, CINAHL and “Science Citation Index Expanded” (Web of Science) were systematically searched.

Results

The search strategy identified 3647 hits and 28 publications with 2639 patients were finally included in this review. Mistletoe was used in bladder cancer, breast cancer, other gynecological cancers (cervical cancer, corpus uteri cancer, and ovarian cancer), colorectal cancer, other gastrointestinal cancer (gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer), glioma, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, melanoma and osteosarcoma. In nearly all studies, mistletoe was added to a conventional therapy. Patient relevant endpoints were overall survival (14 studies, n = 1054), progression- or disease-free survival or tumor response (10 studies, n = 1091). Most studies did not show any effect of mistletoe on survival. Especially high quality studies do not show any benefit.

Conclusions

With respect to survival, a thorough review of the literature does not provide any indication to prescribe mistletoe to patients with cancer.

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Title: Mistletoe in oncological treatment: a systematic review
Part 1: survival and safety
Authors: M. Freuding
C. Keinki
O. Micke
J. Buentzel
Jutta Huebner
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-018-02837-4

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Conclusions

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