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KMID : 0914820070070030167
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Journal of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association
2007 Volume.7 No. 3 p.167 ~ p.173
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The Immunological Effect of Mistletoe Extract on Gastric Cancer Patients
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Yang Sung-Woo
Shin Dong-Gue
Kim Il-Myung
Yoon Sung-Min
Lee Yong-Jik
Heo Su-Hak
Kim Tae-Hee
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Abstract
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Purpose: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients.
Materials and Methods: Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum Qⓡ was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16.
Results: The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment.
Conclusion: It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2007;7:167-173)
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KEYWORD
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Gastric cancer, Alternative therapy, Mistletoe extract, Immune function
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