Mistletoe extracts (Viscum album L., VAE) are widely used integrative cancer care treatments, particularly in Europe [1-5]. They are an old herbal remedy [6, 7] and were introduced as cancer treatment in 1920 by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman, founders of Anthroposophic Medicine [8]. Viscum album is a hemiparasitic shrub, growing on different host trees. Different preparations are available for the treatment of cancer (currently Abnobaviscum®, Helixor®, Iscador®, Iscucin® and Lektinol®). They are available from different host trees such as oak, apple, pine and many others. They are applied parenteral, particularly subcutaneous, but also intravenous, intratumoural, intrapleural, intraperitoneal and other sites.
…
Currently, several interesting trials have been started: One large publicly funded confirmative (phase III) randomized controlled trial investigating the influence of mistletoe treatment on survival and health-related quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, conducted at several cancer centers in Sweden (NCT02948309). One phase I trial on safety of intravenous mistletoe infusions in various cancers, conducted at the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (NCT03051477 [99]), funded by the charity organization Believe Big (www.believebig.org). And one large confirmative (phase III) randomized controlled on the efficacy and safety of intravesical mistletoe extract conpared to Mitomycin instillation in superficial bladder cancer, conducted in more than 30 German study sites. [100]