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Research Study of Mistletoe Extract for Cancer
On this page:
- What is the study?
- Who can join?
- Why is the study being conducted?
- What will happen if you join?
- Who is conducting this study?
- Where is the study taking place?
- Are there any costs?
- Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is the study?
This research study is being conducted to find out whether an extract from the European mistletoe plant, along with a chemotherapy drug called gemcitabine, can help treat people with certain cancers.
Who can join?
Fifty volunteers are needed to take part in this study. You may be eligible to join this study if:
- You have pancreatic or lung cancer that is either newly diagnosed or previously treated with chemotherapy drugs (other than gemcitabine).
- You have colorectal or breast cancer that has been previously treated and has not responded to first line chemotherapy drugs.
- Your cancer cannot be surgically removed, has returned, or has spread.
- You are age 18 or older.
Why is the study being conducted?
European mistletoe injections are used to treat people with cancer, mostly in Europe. It is not the same decorative holiday plant often seen in the United States.
Some studies have suggested that European mistletoe may help boost the immune system and improve a patient's quality of life. However, more study is needed to know about mistletoe's effects and if it can help people with cancer live longer.
Gemcitabine is being used in this study because it is a proven chemotherapy treatment for cancer that has been thoroughly studied. Using it will ensure that patients receive the current standard treatment for their cancer. Also, because the effects of gemcitabine are well-known, researchers will be able to detect any difference from the addition of mistletoe in treating the cancer.
What will happen if you join?
- Before you join, you will meet with the study team to discuss the study, and they will make sure you are eligible.
- You will read and sign a consent form that explains the study in detail.
- If you join the study, you receive the following treatment:
- Gemcitabine will be given intravenously (through a vein) on day 1 and day 8 of a 21-day cycle. Gemcitabine will not be given during the third week.
- Mistletoe extract will be given daily as an injection under the surface of the skin throughout the study, starting on day 8. You will be taught how to self-administer the injections.
- After you complete three cycles (9 weeks) of treatment, the study team will assess your response to the study therapy. If your disease appears stable or if there is evidence of tumor response at this evaluation point, you may choose to continue to participate in the study.
- Everybody who joins the study will receive mistletoe extract as well as gemcitabine, a standard treatment for cancer.
Remember: The decision to participate in the study is yours, and you can choose to leave the study at any time.
Who is conducting this study?
The study is being conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute. Both are components of the National Institutes of Health, the Nation's lead medical research agency.
Where is the study taking place?
The study is taking place at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.
Are there any costs?
You will need to cover the costs of traveling to the NIH for the initial screening visit. If you decide to join the study, there will be no further costs associated with study medications or tests performed at the NIH.For More Information about this study, call 1-800-411-1222.
