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Klingemann H. Viscum album (mistletoe) extract for dogs with cancer? Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1285354. [PMID: 38234984 PMCID: PMC10793657 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1285354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared with the options available to human patients with cancer, treatment choices for dogs are often more limited. Chemotherapy is frequently the first-line treatment for many cancers. However, its efficacy can be limited, and its side effects can affect the quality of the remaining life. This paper briefly summarizes the experience with Viscum album L. (mistletoe) extract in human patients as a stipulation to consider treatment with mistletoe extract for canines with cancer. The mistletoe extract contains -among others - lectins and viscotoxins that have documented anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells as well as immune-stimulatory function. Importantly, it also improves the well-being of patients with cancer due to its lectin ML-1 content, which can trigger the release of endorphins. Being cross-reactive with canine cells and having a relatively low side effect profile, it raises the question of whether mistletoe preparations might be considered as part of the treatment approach for dogs with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Klingemann
- No Longer Running Behind Foundation, Boston, MA, United States
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Juengel E, Rutz J, Meiborg M, Markowitsch SD, Maxeiner S, Grein T, Thomas A, Chun FKH, Haferkamp A, Tsaur I, Vakhrusheva O, Blaheta RA. Mistletoe Extracts from Different Host Trees Disparately Inhibit Bladder Cancer Cell Growth and Proliferation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4849. [PMID: 37835543 PMCID: PMC10571756 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracts of European mistletoe (Viscum album) are popular as a complementary treatment for patients with many different cancer types. However, whether these extracts actually block bladder cancer progression remains unknown. The influence of different mistletoe extracts on bladder cancer cell growth and proliferation was investigated by exposing RT112, UMUC3, and TCCSup cells to mistletoe from hawthorn (Crataegi), lime trees (Tiliae), willow trees (Salicis), or poplar trees (Populi). The tumor cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle progression were then evaluated. Alterations in integrin α and β subtype expression as well as CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 variant (CD44v) expressions were evaluated. Cell cycle-regulating proteins (CDK1 and 2, Cyclin A and B) were also investigated. Blocking and knock-down studies served to correlate protein alterations with cell growth. All extracts significantly down-regulated the growth and proliferation of all bladder cancer cell lines, most strongly in RT112 and UMUC3 cells. Alterations in CD44 expression were not homogeneous but rather depended on the extract and the cell line. Integrin α3 was, likewise, differently modified. Integrin α5 was diminished in RT112 and UMUC3 cells (significantly) and TCCSup (trend) by Populi and Salicis. Populi and Salicis arrested UMUC3 in G0/G1 to a similar extent, whereas apoptosis was induced most efficiently by Salicis. Examination of cell cycle-regulating proteins revealed down-regulation of CDK1 and 2 and Cyclin A by Salicis but down-regulation of CDK2 and Cyclin A by Populi. Blocking and knock-down studies pointed to the influence of integrin α5, CD44, and the Cyclin-CDK axis in regulating bladder cancer growth. Mistletoe extracts do block bladder cancer growth in vitro, with the molecular action differing according to the cell line and the host tree of the mistletoe. Integrating mistletoe into a guideline-based treatment regimen might optimize bladder cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Juengel
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Jochen Rutz
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
| | - Moritz Meiborg
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
| | - Sascha D. Markowitsch
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Sebastian Maxeiner
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
| | - Timothy Grein
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
| | - Anita Thomas
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Felix K.-H. Chun
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
| | - Axel Haferkamp
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Igor Tsaur
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Olesya Vakhrusheva
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Roman A. Blaheta
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (E.J.); (S.D.M.); (A.T.); (A.H.); (I.T.); (O.V.)
- Department of Urology, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.R.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (T.G.); (F.K.-H.C.)
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Halma MTJ, Tuszynski JA, Marik PE. Cancer Metabolism as a Therapeutic Target and Review of Interventions. Nutrients 2023; 15:4245. [PMID: 37836529 PMCID: PMC10574675 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is amenable to low-cost treatments, given that it has a significant metabolic component, which can be affected through diet and lifestyle change at minimal cost. The Warburg hypothesis states that cancer cells have an altered cell metabolism towards anaerobic glycolysis. Given this metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, it is possible to target cancers metabolically by depriving them of glucose. In addition to dietary and lifestyle modifications which work on tumors metabolically, there are a panoply of nutritional supplements and repurposed drugs associated with cancer prevention and better treatment outcomes. These interventions and their evidentiary basis are covered in the latter half of this review to guide future cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T. J. Halma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- EbMC Squared CIC, Bath BA2 4BL, UK
| | - Jack A. Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, I-1029 Turin, Italy
| | - Paul E. Marik
- Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, Washington, DC 20036, USA
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