Viscum album L. Extract Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Viscum album L. Extract Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial on Overall Survival

This randomized clinical trial by Tröger et al. investigated whether Viscum album L. (European mistletoe) extract could improve overall survival and quality of life in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Conducted across centers in Serbia, the study enrolled 220 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either standard supportive care alone or supportive care plus subcutaneous Viscum album extract therapy.

Patients in the mistletoe group received regular injections throughout the treatment period. The primary endpoint was overall survival, and secondary outcomes included safety and quality-of-life measures using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

Results showed a median overall survival of 4.8 months in the control group compared to 6.6 months in the Viscum album group—a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.014). Patients receiving mistletoe also demonstrated enhanced quality-of-life scores, particularly in global health, emotional functioning, and fatigue reduction. Treatment was well tolerated, with only mild injection-site reactions reported.

These findings suggest that Viscum album extract, when added to supportive care, may extend survival and improve quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. While additional large-scale studies are warranted, this trial supports the role of mistletoe as a promising integrative therapy in advanced oncology care.

Reference:

Tröger, W., Galun, D., Reif, M., Schumann, A., Stanković, N., & Milićević, M. (2013). Viscum album [L.] extract therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: A randomised clinical trial on overall survival. European Journal of Cancer, 49(18), 3788-3797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2013.06.043