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Mistletoe extract and chemotherapy side effects: what the evidence says

Based on the evidence, mistletoe injections may modestly improve quality of life and some side effects during chemotherapy, mostly in breast cancer, but most trials were not blinded and the largest blinded trial found no benefit.

4/5 Moderate

At least one well-run randomized trial in people on this outcome, with a positive result. How we score

This page also covers quality of life with cancer. Of 218 PubMed records on mistletoe and quality of life, fatigue or treatment side effects, we read all trials and reviews and kept 22.

Two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in women having CMF chemotherapy for breast cancer (352 and 272 patients) found better quality of life with a lectin-standardised extract. Several open trials in breast, stomach and pancreatic cancer agree, and pooled analyses find a medium-sized effect (SMD about 0.6) and less fatigue.

The counter-evidence is serious. In MISTRAL, the largest blinded trial (290 people with advanced pancreatic cancer), quality of life and weight did not differ from placebo; a 399-patient head and neck trial also found no change, a 288-child German trial of anthroposophic care including mistletoe found no difference in chemotherapy toxicity, and critical reviews conclude the benefit shrinks or disappears in better-run studies. Injection-site reactions in about two thirds of users make blinding very hard.

Mistletoe has not been shown to make chemotherapy work better or worse; anyone in treatment should agree its use with their oncologist, partly because of a reported warfarin interaction.

The evidence ladder higher rungs count for more
  1. Meta-analyses of trialspooled randomized trials6
  2. Human studiestrials and population studies16
  3. Case reportssingle people0
  4. Animal studiesmostly rodents6
  5. Lab studiescells, test tubes53

The studies in people, read one by one

ResultTypeWhat they didWhat they found
PositiveRandomized trial, 2006
352 people		Double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial, lectin-standardised extract PS76A2 during CMF chemotherapy, breast cancer, Russia
Measured: Quality of life (FACT-G and others)		FACT-G total rose 4.40 with mistletoe and fell 5.11 with placebo (p < 0.0001); also better on two other scales. Local reactions in 17.6%. PubMed 16619567
PositiveRandomized trial, 2004
272 people		Double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding trial, PS76A2 during CMF chemotherapy, breast cancer, St Petersburg
Measured: Quality of life (GLQ-8, Spitzer)		Only the medium dose beat placebo: GLQ-8 difference 60.8 mm (19.3 to 102.0); Spitzer uniscale 16.4 mm (6.3 to 26.6). PubMed 15154663
No effectRandomized trial, 2026
290 people		Quality-of-life report of the double-blind, placebo-controlled MISTRAL trial, advanced pancreatic cancer, 9 Swedish centres
Measured: Quality of life, weight, care costs, blood markers over 9 months		No significant difference in quality of life or weight; supportive-care use similar; only eosinophils rose. Authors see no reason to recommend it. PubMed 42059487
No effectRandomized trial, 2024
290 people		Double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial (MISTRAL), advanced pancreatic cancer
Measured: Global health / quality of life		Global health/quality of life similar in both groups (p = 0.86); adverse events similar apart from injection-site reactions. PubMed 38915151
MixedRandomized trial, 2013
72 people		Randomized phase 2 trial, Iscador with carboplatin chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone, advanced lung cancer, Israel
Measured: Chemotherapy side effects, quality of life		No effect on quality of life; fewer chemotherapy dose reductions (13% vs 44%), severe non-blood side effects (16% vs 41%) and hospital stays (24% vs 54%). PubMed 23218588
No effectRandomized trial, 2006
399 people		Quality-of-life substudy of a randomized trial, mistletoe lectin-standardised extract for 60 weeks, head and neck cancer
Measured: Quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30)		No improvement in quality of life in either group. PubMed 16132877
PositiveRandomized trial, 2009
61 people		Open randomized pilot trial, Iscador M special during CAF chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone, early breast cancer, Serbia
Measured: Quality of life, neutropenia		12 of 15 quality-of-life scores significantly better (p < 0.02); neutropenia 3 of 30 vs 8 of 31 (p = 0.182). Not blinded. PubMed 21556248
PositiveRandomized trial, 2014
65 people		Open randomized pilot trial, Helixor A during CAF chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone, early breast cancer (same trial, second arm)
Measured: Quality of life, neutropenia		10 of 15 scores better (p < 0.001 to 0.038); neutropenia 7 of 34 vs 8 of 31 (p = 0.628). Not blinded. PubMed 24701238
PositiveRandomized trial, 2018
95 people		Randomized trial (both mistletoe arms combined) during breast cancer chemotherapy; financed by the Society for Cancer Research and Helixor
Measured: Neutropenia, fever, quality of life		Less pain (p < 0.0001) and appetite loss (p = 0.047); trend to less neutropenia (p = 0.178); no extra fever. PubMed 30247950
PositiveRandomized trial, 2014
220 people		Open randomized trial, mistletoe vs no anticancer therapy, both with best supportive care, advanced pancreatic cancer (quality-of-life data from 168)
Measured: Quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), weight		Better on all 6 function scales and 7 of 9 symptom scales, including pain, fatigue, appetite loss and insomnia. Not blinded; compare MISTRAL above. PubMed 25142075
PositiveRandomized trial, 2012
32 people		Randomized pilot trial, abnobaVISCUM Quercus with oral chemotherapy after stomach cancer surgery, Seoul
Measured: Quality of life, side effects		Global health status improved (p < 0.01); diarrhoea 7% vs 50% (p = 0.014). PubMed 23033982
PositiveRandomized trial, 2004
224 people		Open randomized trial, Helixor A vs lentinan during chemotherapy, breast, ovarian and lung cancer, China
Measured: Quality of life, adverse events		Quality of life better on three scales (p < 0.05); 52 vs 90 adverse events. One serious reaction (angioedema) attributed to mistletoe. PubMed 15015612
PositiveSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2023
3,664 people		Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials and 7 non-randomized studies, breast cancer
Measured: Quality of life		Randomized trials pooled: SMD 0.61 (0.47 to 0.75), certainty rated moderate; main limitation the difficulty of blinding. PubMed 37888846
PositiveSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2020Meta-analysis of 26 publications of prospective controlled trials, all cancers
Measured: Global quality of life		SMD 0.61 (0.41 to 0.81); most studies at high risk of bias or some concerns. PubMed 32690087
PositiveSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2022
1,494 people		Meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials (and 7 non-randomized studies) on cancer-related fatigue
Measured: Fatigue		SMD -0.48 (-0.82 to -0.14), high heterogeneity, most trials at high risk of bias. Authors declare ties to Iscador AG (see funding). PubMed 35239008
No effectSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2022
4,896 people		Meta-analysis of 32 randomized trials of drugs and plant products for cancer-related fatigue (MD Anderson)
Measured: Fatigue		The 3 mistletoe trials did not show a significant reduction in fatigue. PubMed 36612088
No effectSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2019
2,639 people		Systematic review, quality of life and treatment toxicity (Jena)
Measured: Quality of life, side effects		Studies of better quality showed less or no effect on quality of life; no indication to prescribe. PubMed 30673872
MixedSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2008
3,484 people		Cochrane review of 21 randomized trials
Measured: Quality of life, chemotherapy side effects		14 of 16 trials showed some benefit, but only 2, both in breast cancer during chemotherapy, were of higher quality; results need replication. PubMed 18425885
PositiveSystematic review / meta-analysis, 2010Systematic review of 26 randomized and 10 non-randomized controlled studies (Freiburg)
Measured: Quality of life		22 of 26 randomized trials reported a quality-of-life benefit, 3 no difference. PubMed 20483874
PositivePopulation study, 2004
1,442 people		Retrospective multicentre cohort, Iscador alongside standard therapy, breast cancer
Measured: Side effects of standard therapy		Side effects of standard treatment in 16.3% vs 54.1%, adjusted odds ratio 0.47 (0.32 to 0.67). PubMed 15460213
PositivePopulation study, 2009
804 people		Retrospective multicentre cohort, Iscador in stage I-III colorectal cancer
Measured: Side effects of chemotherapy		Side effects of adjuvant therapy in 19% vs 48% (p < .001). PubMed 19883529
MixedPopulation study, 2026
116 people		Prospective observational study, Iscador with chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone, metastatic prostate and bladder cancer, Tehran
Measured: Quality of life, blood toxicity		Prostate cancer: less fatigue, pain, insomnia and diarrhoea; bladder cancer: no difference; no difference in blood toxicity. PubMed 42920949
No effectRandomized trial, 2022
288 people		Open-label multicenter randomized trial in Germany: anthroposophic supportive treatment, which the trial registry (ISRCTN64676790, sponsor Helixor) says includes mistletoe, added to intensive chemotherapy in children aged 1 to 18, vs chemotherapy alone
Measured: Chemotherapy toxicity score; 5-year survival		No significant difference in the toxicity sum score, any toxicity measure, or 5-year overall and event-free survival among 288 children analyzed. PubMed 35698215

Where the sources agree, and where they don’t

3 of 7 kinds of source point toward a benefit, 1 toward no effect or harm, 2 are mixed, and 1 has no data yet. Agreement between independent kinds of evidence matters more than the number of papers in any one of them.

Kind of sourcePoints toDetail
Double-blind placebo trialsMixedtwo Russian breast trials positive; MISTRAL null
Open randomized trialsPositivebetter scores, but patients knew what they got
Children's trial (found via registry)No effect288 children: no difference in toxicity or survival
Meta-analysesMixedSMD about 0.6; critical reviews find little in high-quality trials
Observational cohortsPositivefewer chemo side effects (16% vs 54% in breast cancer)
FDA reportsNo datano pattern on chemo side effects; warfarin interaction signal
Public reportsPositiveall 4 reports on chemo side effects say it helped

Beyond Google: 11 findings about Mistletoe extract from trial registries, FDA reports and patent offices that a normal search rarely shows. See them

What people report

We read public first-person posts and counted every outcome, good or bad. 4 reports about this condition, read on 2026-10-28; 0 mention side effects.

  • 4Helped
  • 0No effect
  • 0Got worse
  • 0Mixed
  • 0Too early

Why these counts prove nothing on their own: people who post are not a random sample, most take other treatments at the same time, and nobody checks the diagnosis. We show them because they tell researchers what to test next.

Read all 4 reports
  • Helped Started Iscador during chemotherapy and says it eased the side effects; tumour free about five years later. Breast Cancer Now forum, 2017-09-24 (Lives in Switzerland where insurance covers it; outcome self-assessed.)
  • Helped Had stopped chemotherapy because of severe gut pain; after starting mistletoe injections she restarted, had no more stomach pain and finished the course. HealthUnlocked, 2022-09-14 (Single course; she does not expect mistletoe to treat the cancer itself.)
  • Helped Injected mistletoe throughout chemotherapy on her doctor's advice to ease side effects and feels it was an important part of coping well. HealthUnlocked, 2021-03 (Same person also reported this in a later thread; counted once.)
  • Helped Used mistletoe for a long time and feels it made her feel better through treatment; stopped over cost and medication changes. HealthUnlocked, 2021-03 (Not used to treat the cancer itself.)

Every other paper we found

PubMed returned 218 papers for this search on 2026-10-28. We read the human studies above ourselves. The rest are sorted by type automatically from PubMed's labels, which are sometimes wrong.

Animal studies 6
  1. Modulated electro-hyperthermia therapy combined with Korean mistletoe extract treatment exerts a strong anti-tumor activity by enhancing cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul), 2025
  2. SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling Mediates Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Activities of Oleanolic Acid in a Mouse Model of Acute Hepatorenal Damage. Medicina (Kaunas), 2023
  3. Effects of European mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp. album) extracts on activity rhythms of the Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Nat Prod Res, 2008
  4. Molecular mechanisms of mistletoe plant extract-induced apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in vivo and in vitro. Cancer Lett, 2008
  5. Immunologic effector mechanisms of a standardized mistletoe extract on the function of human monocytes and lymphocytes in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. J Clin Immunol, 2006
  6. Immunotherapy of C3H/HeJ mammary adenocarcinoma with interleukin-2, mistletoe lectin or their combination. effects on tumour growth, capillary leakage and nitric oxide (NO) production. Eur J Cancer, 2001
Lab studies 53
  1. Systems approach to integrative oncology in breast cancer care: service design, delivery and patient experiences from a UK center. Front Oncol, 2026
  2. Exploring biologically-based complementary and alternative medicine use among Irish cancer survivors: findings from a national survey. Oncologist, 2026
  3. Medicinal Chemistry of Natural Anti-Skin Cancer Agents: An Evidence-Based Literature Review. Anticancer Agents Med Chem, 2026
  4. Patient-reported outcomes regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasias. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2026
  5. Expert-guided approaches to complementary interventions for common side effects of cancer therapies: a practice-based perspective from integrative oncology centers in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Front Oncol, 2025
  6. Network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental validation to reveal the target and pharmacological mechanism of DHDK in treating breast cancer. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2025
  7. The Introspective Patient Experience of Mistletoe Therapy in Cancer: A Qualitative Study. Integr Cancer Ther, 2023
  8. Which is the More Effective Option for Pleurodesis to Prevent the Recurrence of Malignant Pleural Effusion? Large-Particle Talc or Mistletoe Extract (ABNOVA Viscum Injection). J Chest Surg, 2023
  9. General practitioners' communication on complementary and integrative medicine for cancer patients: Findings from an analysis of consultations with standardised patients. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2022
  10. A pilot study of the mistletoe and breast cancer (MAB) trial: a protocol for a randomised double-blind controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud, 2022
  11. Untargeted metabolomics approach to discriminate mistletoe commercial products. Sci Rep, 2021
  12. [Complementary medicine in uro-oncology]. Urologe A, 2021
  13. [Integrative Oncology for Women with Breast Cancer]. Ther Umsch, 2021
  14. Gynecologists' attitudes toward and use of complementary and integrative medicine approaches: results of a national survey in Germany. Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2021
  15. Viscum album L. homogenizer-assisted and ultrasound-assisted extracts as potential sources of bioactive compounds. J Food Biochem, 2020
  16. Absence of herb-drug interactions of mistletoe with the tamoxifen metabolite (E/Z)-endoxifen and cytochrome P450 3A4/5 and 2D6 in vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2019
  17. Integrative cancer care in a certified Cancer Centre of a German Anthroposophic hospital. Complement Ther Med, 2018
  18. Clinical Safety of Combined Targeted and Viscum album L. Therapy in Oncological Patients. Medicines (Basel), 2018
  19. The Subjective Dimension of Integrative Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives, Themes, and Observations of Experienced Doctors from the Area of Anthroposophic Medicine. Explore (NY), 2018
  20. Proteomic fingerprinting of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries and mass spectrometry analysis. J Proteomics, 2017
  21. Intravenous Mistletoe Treatment in Integrative Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Procedures, Concepts, and Observations of Expert Doctors. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2016
  22. Impact of Mistletoe Triterpene Acids on the Uptake of Mistletoe Lectin by Cultured Tumor Cells. PLoS One, 2016
  23. Sensitization of K562 Leukemia Cells to Doxorubicin by the Viscum album Extract. Phytother Res, 2016
  24. Adjuvant Cancer Biotherapy by Viscum Album Extract Isorel: Overview of Evidence Based Medicine Findings. Coll Antropol, 2015
  25. Viscum album (mistletoe) for pancreatic cancer, electromagnetic field therapy for osteoarthritis, homeopathy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, vitamin D for depression, acupuncture for insomnia. Explore (NY), 2015
  26. Mistletoe treatment as homeopathic magic. Dtsch Arztebl Int, 2015
  27. Acute pneumonitis consequent on pleurodesis with Viscum album extract: severe chest images but benign clinical course. Multidiscip Respir Med, 2014
  28. [Importance of complementary medicine approaches for patients with prostate cancer]. Urologe A, 2014
  29. Mistletoe treatment for cancer--promising or passé? Dtsch Arztebl Int, 2014
  30. Online survey of patients with breast cancer on complementary and alternative medicine. Breast Care (Basel), 2014
  31. Targeting inflammation in cancer-related-fatigue: a rationale for mistletoe therapy as supportive care in colorectal cancer patients. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets, 2014
  32. Interaction of standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extracts with chemotherapeutic drugs regarding cytostatic and cytotoxic effects in vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014
  33. Emerging roles of mistletoes in malignancy management. 3 Biotech, 2014
  34. NCCAM/NCI Phase 1 Study of Mistletoe Extract and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013
  35. Barriers and challenges in integration of anthroposophic medicine in supportive breast cancer care. Springerplus, 2013
  36. In vitro investigation into the potential of a mistletoe extract to alleviate adverse effects of cyclophosphamide. Altern Ther Health Med, 2010
  37. Cytotoxic effect of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract on Jurkat cells and its interaction with doxorubicin. Phytother Res, 2010
  38. [Mistletoe therapy in cancer treatment: pros and cons]. MMW Fortschr Med, 2009
  39. Mistletoe treatment in cancer-related fatigue: a case report. Cases J, 2009
  40. Local reactions to treatments with Viscum album L. extracts and their association with T-lymphocyte subsets and quality of life. Anticancer Res, 2008
  41. [Complementary and alternative medicines taken by cancer patients]. Bull Cancer, 2007
  42. Association of complementary methods with quality of life and life satisfaction in patients with gynecologic and breast malignancies. Support Care Cancer, 2007
  43. Exploratory study on the effects of treatment with two mistletoe preparations on chronic hepatitis C. Arzneimittelforschung, 2005
  44. [Use of complementary/alternative therapy methods by patients with breast cancer]. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd, 2003
  45. Natural products of plant origin as anticancer agents. Drug News Perspect, 2001
  46. Use of alternative/complementary therapy in breast cancer patients--a psychological perspective. Support Care Cancer, 2001
  47. Characterisation of immunological reactivity of patients with adverse effects during therapy with an aqueous mistletoe extract. Eur J Med Res, 1999
  48. Complementary therapies in cancer care: an NHS approach. Int J Palliat Nurs, 1996
  49. Mistletoe extract standardized for the galactoside-specific lectin (ML-1) induces beta-endorphin release and immunopotentiation in breast cancer patients. Anticancer Res, 1994
  50. [Why do cancer patients use alternative medicine?]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1991
  51. [The use of paramedical treatment methods by cancer patients. A inquiry on 101 ambulatory patients]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1986
  52. [Postoperative Viscum album therapy after surgery of breast neoplasms]. Helv Chir Acta, 1977
  53. [STIMULATION OF NEUTROPHILIA BY A POLYSACCHARIDE EXTRACT OF "VISCUM ALBUM". ITS THERAPEUTIC USE IN NEUTROPENIA]. Rev Fr Etud Clin Biol, 1963
Reviews 32
  1. Integrative Oncology Approaches to Supporting Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment of Solid Tumours. Curr Oncol Rep, 2024
  2. Viscum album (mistletoe) extract for dogs with cancer? Front Vet Sci, 2023
  3. The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Viscum album. Plants (Basel), 2023
  4. Horner's Syndrome and Lymphocele Following Thyroid Surgery. J Clin Med, 2023
  5. [Phytotherapy in uro-oncology]. Urologie, 2023
  6. Cancer Chemotherapy via Natural Bioactive Compounds. Curr Drug Discov Technol, 2022
  7. Viscum album L. Therapy in Oncology: An Update on Current Evidence. Complement Med Res, 2022
  8. Exploring the resources of the genus Viscum for potential therapeutic applications. J Ethnopharmacol, 2021
  9. [Mistletoe in the treatment of cancer patients]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz, 2020
  10. Anticancer Effects of Herbal Medicine Compounds and Novel Formulations: a Literature Review. J Gastrointest Cancer, 2020
  11. Mistletoe and Immunomodulation: Insights and Implications for Anticancer Therapies. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2019
  12. Viscum articulatum Burm. f.: a review on its phytochemistry, pharmacology and traditional uses. J Pharm Pharmacol, 2018
  13. Cancer therapy with phytochemicals: evidence from clinical studies. Avicenna J Phytomed, 2015
  14. Preclinical and clinical effects of mistletoe against breast cancer. Biomed Res Int, 2014
  15. [Mistletoe extract for treatment of urological tumors]. Urologe A, 2012
  16. The use of herbal medicine in cancer-related anorexia/ cachexia treatment around the world. Curr Pharm Des, 2012
  17. The preclinical and clinical activity of aviscumine: a potential anticancer drug. Eur J Cancer, 2011
  18. Herbs in hemato-oncological care: an evidence-based review of data on efficacy, safety, and drug interactions. Leuk Lymphoma, 2010
  19. Herbal interactions with anticancer drugs: mechanistic and clinical considerations. Curr Med Chem, 2010
  20. Clinical research in anthroposophic medicine. Altern Ther Health Med, 2009
  21. [A critical assessment of phytotherapy for prostate cancer]. Urologe A, 2009
  22. A critical review of complementary therapies for cancer-related fatigue. Integr Cancer Ther, 2007
  23. Preclinical investigations with mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract Iscador. Arzneimittelforschung, 2006
  24. Botanical medicine and cancer: a review of the safety and efficacy. Expert Opin Pharmacother, 2004
  25. Mistletoe and cancer: controversies and perspectives. Semin Oncol, 2002
  26. Mistletoe extracts standardised in terms of mistletoe lectins (ML I) in oncology: current state of clinical research. Onkologie, 2002
  27. A primer of complementary and alternative medicine commonly used by cancer patients. Med J Aust, 2001
  28. Therapeutic applications of medicinal plants in the treatment of breast cancer: a review of their pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. Adverse Drug React Toxicol Rev, 2000
  29. [Immunomodulating mistletoe therapy by lectin standardization: a double-edged sword?]. Versicherungsmedizin, 1999
  30. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 1. Essiac. The Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ, 1998
  31. From ill-defined extracts to the immunomodulatory lectin: will there be a reason for oncological application of mistletoe? Planta Med, 1994
  32. [Mistletoe in the treatment of cancer]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 1993
Other papers, not yet read by us 105
  1. High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C and Mistletoe Therapy in Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study on Overall Survival in Palliative Care. Cancers (Basel), 2026
  2. Efficacy and Safety of Viscum album L. in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Protocol for an Open-Label Randomized Clinical Trial. Integr Cancer Ther, 2026
  3. MISTOSUS: a phase II trial of Viscum album extract adjuvant therapy for relapsed resectable osteosarcoma. Future Oncol, 2026
  4. Systematic review and network meta-analysis of the effects of plant active substance on quality of life in breast cancer patients. Front Pharmacol, 2025
  5. The Mistletoe and Breast Cancer (MAB) Study: A UK Mixed-Phase, Pilot, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Controlled Trial. Cancers (Basel), 2025
  6. Unconventional Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel), 2025
  7. Immunomodulatory Activity and Inhibitory Effects of Viscum album on Cancer Cells, Its Safety Profiles and Recent Nanotechnology Development. Planta Med, 2024
  8. Mistletoe Extracts during the Oncological Perioperative Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Oncol, 2023
  9. Patient' and social aspects related to complementary mistletoe therapy in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review commissioned by the German agency for Health Technology Assessment. Eur J Oncol Nurs, 2023
  10. Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by women with breast cancer or gynecological cancer. PLoS One, 2023
  11. Evaluation of quality of life in lung cancer patients receiving radiation and Viscum album L.: a real-world data study. Radiat Oncol, 2023
  12. Phase I Trial of Intravenous Mistletoe Extract in Advanced Cancer. Cancer Res Commun, 2023
  13. Safety of Combined Targeted and Helixor®Viscum album L. Therapy in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients, a Real-World Data Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023
  14. Survival of Cancer Patients Treated with Non-Fermented Mistletoe Extract: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Integr Cancer Ther, 2022
  15. Additional treatment with mistletoe extracts for patients with breast cancer compared to conventional cancer therapy alone - efficacy and safety, costs and cost-effectiveness, patients and social aspects, and ethical assessment. Ger Med Sci, 2022
  16. Complete, Durable Remission of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma under Treatment with Viscum album Extracts: A Case Report. Complement Med Res, 2022
  17. Mistletoe Extract Viscum Fraxini-2 for Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series. Case Rep Oncol, 2021
  18. Viscum album extract (Helixor-M) treatment for thoracic duct injury after modified radical neck dissection: a case report. Gland Surg, 2021
  19. Long-Term Survival of a Patient with Recurrent Dedifferentiated High-Grade Liposarcoma of the Retroperitoneum Under Adjuvant Treatment with Viscum album L. Extract: A Case Report. Integr Cancer Ther, 2021
  20. Analysis of Changes in Cancer-Related Fatigue of Breast Cancer Patients Receiving an Integrative Medicine Program. Integr Cancer Ther, 2020
  21. Efficacy of mistletoe extract as a complement to standard treatment in advanced pancreatic cancer: study protocol for a multicentre, parallel group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial (MISTRAL). Trials, 2020
  22. Reducing Malignant Ascites and Long-Term Survival in a Patient with Recurrent Gastric Cancer Treated with a Combination of Docetaxel and Mistletoe Extract. Case Rep Oncol, 2020
  23. Impact of Oncological Therapy and Viscum album L Treatment on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Internal Coherence in Nonmetastasized Breast Cancer Patients. Integr Cancer Ther, 2020
  24. Long-term survival of a patient with an inoperable thymic neuroendocrine tumor stage IIIa under sole treatment with Viscum album extract: A CARE compliant clinical case report. Medicine (Baltimore), 2020
  25. Bilateral Asynchronous Renal Cell Carcinoma With Lung Metastases: A Case Report of a Patient Treated Solely With High-dose Intravenous and Subcutaneous Viscum album Extract for a Second Renal Lesion. Anticancer Res, 2019
  26. Long-term survival of a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer under adjunct treatment with Viscum album extracts: A case report. World J Gastroenterol, 2019
  27. Supportive mistletoe therapy in a patient with metastasised neuroblastoma. BMJ Case Rep, 2019
  28. Use and Safety of Viscum album L Applications in Cancer Patients With Preexisting Autoimmune Diseases: Findings From the Network Oncology Study. Integr Cancer Ther, 2019
  29. Mistletoe in oncological treatment: a systematic review : Part 1: survival and safety. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2019
  30. Long-Term Tumor-Free Survival in a Patient with Stage IV Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Undergoing High-Dose Chemotherapy and Viscum album Extract Treatment: A Case Report. Perm J, 2018
  31. Long-term tumor-free survival in a metastatic pancreatic carcinoma patient with FOLFIRINOX/Mitomycin, high-dose, fever inducing Viscum album extracts and subsequent R0 resection: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore), 2018
  32. Safety of high-dose intravenous mistletoe therapy in pediatric cancer patients: A case series. Complement Ther Med, 2018
  33. Overall survival of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with Viscum album L. in addition to chemotherapy, a real-world observational multicenter analysis. PLoS One, 2018
  34. Immunological and Quality-of-Life Profiles in Women with Breast Cancer: Complementary versus Conventional Care. Complement Med Res, 2018
  35. Is Mistletoe Treatment Beneficial in Invasive Breast Cancer? A New Approach to an Unresolved Problem. Anticancer Res, 2018
  36. Safety of Combined Treatment With Monoclonal Antibodies and Viscum album L Preparations. Integr Cancer Ther, 2018
  37. Clinical safety of combined therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and Viscum album L. therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017
  38. Immune-related and adverse drug reactions to low versus high initial doses of Viscum album L. in cancer patients. Phytomedicine, 2017
  39. Complete remission and long-term survival of a patient with melanoma metastases treated with high-dose fever-inducing Viscum album extract: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore), 2017
  40. Safety of intravenously applied mistletoe extract - results from a phase I dose escalation study in patients with advanced cancer. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017
  41. Fever Therapy With Intravenously Applied Mistletoe Extracts for Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study. Integr Cancer Ther, 2017
  42. Health services research of integrative oncology in palliative care of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer, 2016
  43. Cancer Patients' Experiences of Using Mistletoe (Viscum album): A Qualitative Systematic Review and Synthesis. J Altern Complement Med, 2016
  44. High-Dose Viscum album Extract Treatment in the Prevention of Recurrent Bladder Cancer: A Retrospective Case Series. Perm J, 2015
  45. Mistletoe Plant Extract in Patients with Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Results of a Phase Ib/IIa Single Group Dose Escalation Study. J Urol, 2015
  46. Use and safety of intratumoral application of European mistletoe (Viscum album L) preparations in Oncology. Integr Cancer Ther, 2015
  47. Disappearance of an advanced adenomatous colon polyp after intratumoural injection with Viscum album (European mistletoe) extract: a case report. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis, 2014
  48. Tumour response following high-dose intratumoural application of Viscum album on a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. BMJ Case Rep, 2014
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Other conditions Mistletoe extract has been studied for

Checked against PubMed on 2026-10-28. Everything we know about Mistletoe extract