Blood and tissue eosinophilia, mistletoe lectin antibodies and quality of life in a breast cancer patient undergoing intratumoral and subcutaneous mistletoe injection

Background: Mistletoe therapy (MT) is a method of complementary medicine whose efficacy is controversially discussed. Until now there is a lack of data of high-dose intratumoral application. Patient and Methods: We are presenting a 3-year follow-up of an 80-year-old woman with metastasized breast cancer (c(2)T3/N1/M1) receiving combined intra- and peritumoral and subcutaneous MT with ABNOBAviscum(R) and concomitant pamitron acid. At time of admission the patient had bone metastases (thoracic vertebra 11 fracture), a lymphangiosis carcinomatosa, bilateral pleural effusions, and a reduced quality of life (QoL). Results: Under MT we induced an eosinophilia and an elevation of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). Simultaneously, we ascertained a reduction of 50% of Ca 15-3 and a sustained partial tumor remission. After 5 months the mistletoe-lectin-1 antibodies IgG-1 and -3 were maximally increased and we perceived a second Ca 15-3 reduction. After 3 months we observed a benefit in QoL. During the following 5 months the patient gained about 10 kg in weight. In the second year slow tumor progress was observed. After 19 months the patient had pneumonia which caused an MT pause. Subsequently, a combined intratumoral mistletoe and letrozol therapy brought a partial remission. The patient lived without chemo- and radiation therapy more than 3 years with good QoL and died after 41 months, after a sepsis and a following stroke without signs of tumor progress. Conclusion: In metastasized breast cancer a palliative high-dose local MT can make a contribution to a tumor reduction and a benefit in QoL.