Effects of Mistletoe on Cancer, Dr. Misha Weighs in on New Study
Dr. Misha Kogan, director of GW center for Integrative Medicine, discusses the brand new study on the effects of Mistletoe on cancer: “Phase 1 Trial of Intravenous Mistletoe Extract In Advanced Cancer” which has been published in The American Association for Cancer Research Journals. Dr. Misha notes that this article is a proof, and as the study has not yet been published, the final article may be edited slightly.
Mistletoe Therapy
For years GW Center for Integrative Medicine has been using mistletoe extract in our center. A large number of centers in Europe have been using this tool more commonly than in the U.S. The Phase I trial is the first control study done in the United States and was sponsored by a Dr. Channing Pallor of John Hopkins. A small study was drawn of 21 patients who had a metastatic disease and failed up to 6 treatments. The mistletoe therapy was started at 150 milligrams and went up to 600 milligrams. At GW Center, we start mistletoe a lot slower. Dr. Misha notes that the protocol perhaps was sped up for the needs of the trial. The patients had a significant amount of “side effects,” but perhaps, according to Dr. Misha, we should consider those adverse events more like therapeutic effects. If the immune system is upregulated patients may feel flu-like effects for a day or two. GW center administers dosage until patients experience those effects and then taper down. Of the subjects in the study, 24 percent of patients had a response. Dr. Misha underscores that all of these patients were patients that weren’t expected to live a long time.
Johns Hopkins Mistletoe Study
The patients were recruited at John Hopkins. Most were able to walk and make it to the clinic. They had failed some treatment prior. They used Helixor M, which is the same product used at GW’s clinic. They decided to administer this treatment based on some previous data. A variety of cancers were treated. Throughout the study some cancers progressed very little. The most important graf, according to Dr. Misha, is that several patients lived more than 12 weeks, and some more than a year even though they initially had a life expectancy of a few weeks. A five month treatment was only administered in just two patients (and those patients are still alive). Though therapy for some patients was discontinued quickly, the effect lasted for some time.
Dr. Misha’s Takeaways
It’s a positive study. It vindicates some of the critique against mistletoe, and it will likely gain recognition in the U.S. as an oncological treatment.
If you have a friend, relative or loved one who could benefit from mistletoe treatment, contact George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine.
