Clinical relevance of immunoactive mistletoe lectin-I

Recent investigations have shown that defined, non-toxic doses of the galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin (mistletoe lectin-I, a constituent of clinically approved plant extracts) have immunomodulatory potencies. The obvious ability of certain lectins (e.g. mistletoe lectin-I) to activate (non)-specific defence mechanisms supports the assumption that lectin-carbohydrate interactions may induce clinically beneficial immunomodulation. Initial clinical trials were promising and currently prospectively randomized multicentre trials are being performed to evaluate the ability of complementary mistletoe lectin-I treatment to reduce the rate of tumor recurrences and metastases, to improve the overall survival as well as the quality of life and to exert immunoprotection in cancer patients under tumor destructive therapy.