The purpose of this feasibility study is to identify appropriate surrogate parameters for a randomized study to examine the efficacy of a complementary therapy with an extract of viscum album (Iscador P) in patients with breast cancer.
The study consists of three parts. Part 1 is a prospective non-randomized feasibility study in patients with breast cancer after primary surgery during chemotherapy or endocrine therapy comparing blood count, lymphocytes, quality of life and local and general side effects between the groups Part 2 is a prospective randomized feasibility study with a waiting list for three months comparing changes in quality of life, depression, diurnal cortisol profile and expression of zeta-chains in T- and NK-cells after three months of treatment or waiting in patients of two different strata (early breast cancer UICC I/II and metastatic breast cancer) Part 3 consists of two follow-up periods of 12 months respective. Patients may choose to continue, quit or restart mistletoe treatment upon their own decision, endpoints from part 2 are evaluated every 6 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
114
s.c. injection of 0,001-20 mg 3 times per week
s.c. injection 0,001-20 mg 3 times per week
Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
blood count
Time frame: 6-30 months
lymphocytes
Time frame: 6-30 months
lymphocyte stimulation
Time frame: 4 months
quality of life
Time frame: 6-30 months
anxiety and depression
Time frame: 6-30 months
diurnal profile of cortisol
Time frame: 6-30 months
expression of zeta-chains on T- and NK-cells
Time frame: 6-30 months
local reactions
Time frame: 6-30 months
documentation of concomitant medication
Time frame: 6-30 months
documentation of concomitant therapies
Time frame: 6-30 months
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