FOK_140_Supplemental Material.pdf (103.42 kB)
Supplementary Material for: Prospective Controlled Cohort Studies on Long-Term Therapy of Cervical Cancer Patients with a Mistletoe Preparation (Iscador®)
dataset
posted on 2007-06-22, 00:00 authored by Grossarth-Maticek R., Ziegler R.Mistletoe preparations such as Iscador are commonly
used in complementary medication for many cancer indications,
particularly solid cancers. The efficacy of this complementary
therapy is still controversial. Objective: Does longterm
therapy with Iscador show any effect on survival, tumor
progression and psychosomatic self-regulation of patients with
cervical cancer? Patients and Methods: Prospective recruitment
and long-term follow-up was carried out in 3 controlled cohort
studies: In a randomized matched-pair study (19 pairs), cervical
cancer patients with distant metastases and no mistletoe therapy
were matched for prognostic factors. By paired random allocation,
one of the patients was recommended mistletoe therapy
by the attending physician. In 2 non-randomized matched-pair
studies, cervical cancer patients without (102) and with (66)
metastases, who already received mistletoe therapy, were
matched with control patients without Iscador therapy. Results:
For survival, the non-randomized studies showed significant
effects in favor of Iscador therapy: hazard ratio (HR) estimate
and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23 (0.14-0.39) and 0.37
(0.17-0.80), respectively. An effect of long-term Iscador therapy
on tumor progression was not seen. Psychosomatic self-regulation
in the Iscador group improved significantly within 12
months compared with the control group in the randomized as
well as in 1 non-randomized study (cervical cancer without
metastases): estimate of the median difference and 95% CI: 0.70
(0.15-1.05) and 0.25 (0.15-0.35), respectively. Conclusion: Iscador
may have the effect of prolonging overall survival of cervical
cancer patients. In the short term, psychosomatic self-regulation
increases more markedly under complementary Iscador
therapy than under conventional therapy alone.