Mistletoe Therapy

What Preclinical (Laboratory or Animal) Studies Have Been Conducted Using Mistletoe?

Many laboratory and animal studies have been done with mistletoe, either alone or combined with other agents. Laboratory studies have suggested that mistletoe may support the immune system by increasing the number and activity of various types of white blood cells. One type of European mistletoe (IscadorQu) used in a 2004 laboratory study showed a strong anticancer effect on certain types of cancer cells but no anticancer effect on other types of cancer cells. While one laboratory study reported that mistletoe extract caused several types of human cancer cells to grow faster, this was not found in other recent lab studies.

Studies testing mistletoe’s ability to stop cancer cell growth in animals have yielded mixed and inconsistent results, depending on the extract used, the dose tested, the way it was given, and the type of cancer studied. Results of a few animal studies have suggested that mistletoe may be useful in decreasing the side effects of standard anticancer therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and that it counteracts the effects of drugs used to suppress the immune system, such as cortisone.

Have Any Clinical Trials (Research Studies with People) Been Conducted Using Mistletoe?

Most clinical trials using mistletoe to treat cancer have been done in Europe. Most study results have been published in German.
Many studies involve using mistletoe as adjuvant therapy in patients with cancer. One retrospective cohort study done in Europe between 1993 and 2000 looked at the use of a mistletoe extract (Iscador) as long-term adjuvant therapy in 800 patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for colorectal cancer that had not spread. The study found that patients treated with Iscador had fewer adverse events, better symptom relief, and improved disease-free survival compared to patients who did not receive Iscador as adjuvant therapy.

A European study published in 2013 looked at the use of Iscador Qu in advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Patients received best supportive care and were randomly assigned to receive either Iscador Qu or no anticancer therapy. Results in 220 patients showed that those treated with Iscador had improved survival and less severe disease-related symptoms (including pain, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and anxiety) compared with those who did not receive Iscador Qu.

A European study done between 1978 and 1987 looked at the use of Iscador U and Iscador Qu in non-small cell lung cancer that could not be treated with surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of 3 treatments: (1) Iscador injections; (2) Polyerga Neu injections (a sheep spleen preparation said to stimulate the immune system and have anti-tumor effects); or (3) placebo injections of a vitamin B mixture. Results in 312 patients showed no differences between the 3 groups in survival or tumor response. It was noted that more patients in the Iscador group reported an improved sense of well-being compared with patients in the other groups.

Before researchers can conduct clinical drug research in the United States, they must file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA does not make information public about IND applications or approvals; this information can be made public only by the applicants. In the last decade, at least two U.S. investigators were given approval to conduct clinical trials of mistletoe as a treatment for people with cancer. These clinical trials are now closed.

In 2002, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), in cooperation with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), began enrolling patients for a phase I clinical trial of a mistletoe extract (Helixor A) and gemcitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors. This combination showed low toxicity and no botanical -drug interactions were reported.

How is Mistletoe Therapy Useful in Treating Cancer?

Mistletoe extract is studied as a possible anticancer agent because it has been shown to: 

• Have effects on the immune system.
• Kill mouse, rat, and human cancer cells in the laboratory.
• Protect the DNA in white blood cells in the laboratory, including cells that have been exposed to DNA-damaging chemotherapy drugs.

Is Mistletoe Therapy Clinically Reviewed?

Findings from over 50 clinical trials using mistletoe extracts in patients with cancer have been published. Recent reviews of many studies taken together have looked at the effects of mistletoe on quality of life, survival, and symptom relief in different types of cancer: 

• Quality of life was measured in a review that included 26 randomized clinical trials. Of these, 22 trials showed patients had improved quality of life. All 10 non-randomized, controlled clinical trials reviewed also reported the same benefits. Chemotherapy-related fatigue, nausea and vomiting, depression, emotional well-being, and concentration improved. Some of the studies were well designed, while others had weaknesses.
• Tumor response, quality of life, and psychological distress were measured in a review of 21 randomized clinical trials in patients with different types of cancer. A variety of mistletoe extracts were used either alone, with chemotherapy, or with radiation therapy. Most of the studies reported benefits for patients, although this review had weaknesses in design and size.
• Quality of life and survival were measured in a review of 10 randomized clinical trials which used a variety of mistletoe extracts in patients with different types of cancer. There was no difference in survival or quality of life measures in patients who received mistletoe compared to those who did not.

Have Any Side Effects or Risks Been Reported from Mistletoe?

Very few serious side effects have been reported from the use of mistletoe extract products. Common side effects include soreness and inflammation at injection sites, headache, fever, and chills. A few cases of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported, but are very rare.

How Is Mistletoe Therapy Administered?

Mistletoe extracts are given by injection or into a vein (intravenous or IV), into the pleural cavity, or into the tumor.