On Doctoring MEDLINE searches, with reference librarian comments, March 2000

The question was

Use of "Iscador" and "PC-SPES" as alternative therapies for prostate cancer.

1     exp Prostatic neoplasms/    results= 15020   
2     exp Alternative medicine/    results= 15560   
3     1 and 2    results= 26   
4     iscador.mp. [mp=title, abstract, registry number word, mesh    results= 29   
subject heading]
5     1 and 4    results= 0   
6     PC-SPES.mp. [mp=title, abstract, registry number word, mesh    results= 8   
subject heading]
7     1 and 6 7

Reference Librarian comments

Your search is just fine. You "exploded" subject headings, combined sets, etc. The subject itself is interesting. There's plenty of literature in "Chemical Abstracts" for iscador. Thanks for participating in the exercise.

We have a resource called "Alt Health Watch," which is where I found this, below. I don't have time right now to track down the bibliographic details, so I'm not sure just how reliable or useful this might be.

Also, it's sometimes useful to try the "CAM" database at NIH for alternative health searches. It's at:

http://altmed.od.nih.gov/nccam/resources/cam-ci/

Two Studies of Iscador(R)

Author
Gorter, Robert
Article
The European Mistletoe (Viscum allure): New Studies Show Significant Results for AIDS and Immune System Problems.
The European mistletoe has been used for a wide variety of therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. Mistletoe preparations have been used for epilepsy, infertility, hypertension and certain connective tissue disorders. It was Rudolf Steiner who first advocated a special preparation of mistletoe to be used as an injectable in the treatment of cancer patients. In the early 1920's in lectures to doctors, Rudolf Steiner mentioned the immune system as an important defense mechanism against cancer. Daily, in our body, hundreds of cells degenerate be because of viral infections or because of genetic changes, and can become cancerous. The function of special-white blood cells, natural-killer cells among others, is to recognize these deteriorating cells and destroy them. This is how the immune system defends the body against the formation of tumors.
In cancer patients this function of the immune system has obviously been weakened and cancerous cells are no longer being eliminated. According to Rudolf Steiner, the mistletoe, when prepared m a special way and then injected, enhances the immune system by killing off cancerous cells and cells which are damaged by a vital infection or toxic influences from the environment (for instance, ultraviolet light).
In many countries, including the countries within the European Union, Iscador(R) is a licensed medication for monotherapy and as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment. Iscador is made from plants growing on different host trees, like oak, apple, pine and fur, and is administered in different kinds of cancer therapy. Iscador is manufactured by the Verein fuer Krobsforschung (Cancer Research Association), a non-profit organization in Arlesheim, Switzerland).
Since 1984, clinical observations have suggested that Iscador might have a beneficial effect in HIV infection, both as monotherapy and in combination with Retrovir(R) (AZT). Through collaborative efforts with Professor Maria Linder of the California State University in Fullerton, we received permission from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a first clinical trial with Iscador "R" in HIV positives, in healthy non-smoking individuals and in cancer patients (a phase I/II trial).
This study was completed in October of 1994. We were able to document the following:
1. Iscador(R) is-well-tolerated; no toxicities of any significance were seen.
2. In most patients (and in several healthy individuals) the quality of life increased remarkably.
3. The clinical condition of the HIV positives stabilized as well as their T4 helper cell counts. Also, other laboratory tests suggested that the progress of the HIV infection was inhibited.
4. In a three-dimensional collagen matrix, directly under the microscope, we could document and videotape an increased action against breast cancer cells and colon cancer cells (increased natural killer cell activities) by the white blood cells of the study participants.
At the moment, in Europe, two large international, multi-centered trials in women with cervix dysplasia and in HIV positives will be performed to document the efficacy of Iscdor(R) in these two groups.
These studies are in part financially supported by the government of Germany, and by non-profit corporations and foundations.
The effect of Iscador(R) will be compared to the effect of Iscador pins Retrovir(R) (AZT) and to the effect of Retrovir(R) alone.
Article copyright LILIPOH Publishing Inc.