[Immunoactive effects of various mistletoe lectin-1 dosages in mammary carcinoma patients]

Cellular aspects of the immunomodulating activity of a proprietary mistletoe extract (Eurixor) standardized for mistletoe lectin-1 (ML-1) were investigated in patients suffering from mammary carcinoma (n = 20). Regular subcutaneous injections of the different dosages (0.5 and 1.0 ng ML-1/kg body weight, twice a week, for 5 weeks) yielded statistically significant increases of defined peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (helper T-cells, natural killer (NK)-cells) which are generally believed to be involved in antitumor activity. Moreover, administration of either ML-1 concentration resulted in enhanced expression of activation markers such as interleukin-2 receptors and HLA/DR-antigens on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes. This study suggests that regular subcutaneous administration of both ML-1 concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 ng/kg body weight) can efficiently stimulate the cellular immune system of cancer patients.