How useful are unconventional cancer treatments?

被引：52
作者：
Ernst, E
Cassileth, BR
机构：
[1] Univ Exeter, Sch Postgrad Med & Hlth Sci, Dept Complementary Med, Exeter EX2 4NT, Devon, England
[2] Mem Sloan Kettering Canc Ctr, Integrat Med Serv, New York, NY 10021 USA
来源：
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER | 1999年 / 35卷 / 11期
关键词：
complementary medicine; alternative medicine; cancer; palliative therapy; unconventional drugs; diet;
D O I：
10.1016/S0959-8049(99)00198-7
中图分类号：
R73 [肿瘤学];
学科分类号：
100214 ;
摘要：
Unconventional cancer treatments are used frequently. Therefore, oncologists need to know about them. This article gives an overview of current knowledge on the most prevalent complementary or alternative cancer therapies. A distinction is made between alleged cures, preventive and adjunctive measures. Shark cartilage, mistletoe, thymus therapy, essiac, hydrazine sulphate, 714-X, dietary regimens, green tea and Panax ginseng are all covered specifically. None of these treatments offer reasonable hope for a cure. Some strategies are promising in terms of cancer prevention. The true potential of unconventional therapies might lie in adjunctive and palliative care. It is concluded that good evidence in this area is scarce. Vis-a-vis the high prevalence of unconventional cancer treatments, rigorous investigations are mandatory, not least for increasing the safety of future patients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码：1608 / 1613
页数：6
相关论文
共 83 条
[1]   Dietary components modify the ability of garlic to suppress 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthcacene-induced mammary DNA adducts [J].
Amagase, H ;
Schaffer, EM ;
Milner, JA .
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION, 1996, 126 (04) :817-824
[2]   Shark cartilage-induced hepatitis [J].
Ashar, B ;
Vargo, E .
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, 1996, 125 (09) :780-781
[3]   Why patients use alternative medicine - Results of a national study [J].
Astin, JA .
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1998, 279 (19) :1548-1553
[4]  
BAGENAL FS, 1990, LANCET, V336, P606
[5]  
BEUTH J, 1991, In Vivo (Attiki), V5, P29
[6]  
Boik J, 1995, CANC NATURAL MED TXB, pxiv
[7]  
BURKHARD B, 1995, ONKOLOGIE, V1, P583
[8]  
Cassileth, 1996, Oncologist, V1, P173
[9]  
Cassileth B.R., 1998, The Alternative Medicine Handbook
[10]  
CASSILETH BR, 1989, CANCER, V63, P1247, DOI 10.1002/1097-0142(19890401)63:7<1247::AID-CNCR2820630703>3.0.CO
123456789