Research Radartracking 1,762 published studies · 471 human · 11 safety signals · 58 clinical trials · 44 cancer pages · updated Sep 2026Open the Research Map →
Mistletoe (VAE) †Rx
Rx extract: Lectin apoptosis, NK/cytokine ↑, QoL ↑; moderate adjunct signals in breast/lung/pancreatic/colorectal.
Computed deterministically from the studies’ types and reported outcomes — not written by AI, and not a claim that anything works.
👥⭐⭐⭐ Moderate — Consistent QoL signals with adjunct use; survival/response benefits vary and depend on extract and setting.Viscum album extractIscadorHelixor
Educational only, not medical advice. OncoForge makes no claim that Mistletoe (VAE) †Rx treats, prevents, or cures any condition, beyond what the linked studies show. Evidence levels vary; effects may not translate to people, and some compounds can cause harm. Always coordinate with your oncology team.
Key Takeaway
Injectable Viscum album extracts can trigger lectin-mediated tumor apoptosis and modulate immunity (NK/CTL, IL-12/TNF-α). Across mixed-quality human studies, VAE frequently improves quality of life and treatment tolerance; disease-control benefits appear context- and product-dependent.
Evidence at a glance
Tier 3 · early humanBreastLungPancreaticColorectal
50+ RCTs/observational studies; meta-QoL benefits (SMD 0.3-0.5); survival OS HR 0.7-0.9 in subsets; US IV phase I ongoing (NCT05165405); product heterogeneity limits pooling.
VAE contains lectins (RIP-II) and viscotoxins. Lectins bind cell-surface carbohydrates, internalize, and depurinate rRNA (N-glycosidase), inhibiting protein synthesis and inducing apoptosis. Pattern-recognition signaling (e.g., TLR/Dectin-like) raises IL-12/TNF-α, enhances NK/CTL cytotoxicity, and may reduce angiogenic factors. Clinical literature reports QoL gains, symptom relief, and some survival signals when used adjunctively with chemo/radiation, with heterogeneity by extract type, dose, and tumor site.
Targets & pathways
Curated mechanistic targets reported for this agent — how it may act on cells, not proof of a clinical effect.
Lectin (RIP-II)↑rRNA depurination → protein synthesis inhibition
Combinations reported in the literature, not a protocol or a recommendation.
Gemcitabine: Better tolerance and PFS in pancreatic adjunct trials.
Cisplatin: Amplified NK/Th1 response in lung cancer models.
Curcumin: Cooperative cytokine/apoptosis in colorectal.
Resveratrol: Enhanced lectin-mediated kill in breast preclinical.
Overlapping mechanisms
Immune (NK): Overlaps with other β-glucan/lectin immunomodulators.
Cytokines: Th1 skew may saturate with multi-immune agents; monitor inflammation.
Safety & interactions
Severity and how well-established each signal is are shown separately. Verify everything with your oncologist or pharmacist — absence here does not mean safe.
Risk categories
Local ReactionFlu LikeHypotension
Potential interactions
immunotherapiesMonitorModerateTheoreticalCytokine overlap; potential for additive immune activation.
chemotherapySynergizeLowTheoreticalEnhances tolerance without efficacy loss.
GemcitabineSynergizeLowTheoreticalImproved QoL and possible PFS in pancreatic.
Timing
AM: SubQ in morning to observe reactions during day.
2-3x/week: Spaced injections for cumulative effects.
The authors tested how injectable mistletoe-extract drugs affect human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in vitro. Non-fermented AbnobaViscum, but not fermented Iscador, specifically expanded and activated these T cells, causing degranulation and production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. Activation depended on the butyrophilin BTN3A, did not require accumulation of endogenous phosphoantigens, and used the same Vγ9Vδ2 TCR repertoire as phosphoantigen-reactive cells. The findings identify Vγ9Vδ2 T cells as a cellular target of mistletoe extracts but do not demonstrate effects in patients or in vivo.
Key findings
Non-fermented mistletoe-extract drugs (AbnobaViscum), but not fermented counterparts (Iscador), induced specific expansion of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells among T cells.
AbnobaViscum rapidly induced the release of cytotoxic granules and the production of the cytokines IFNγ and TNFα in Vγ9Vδ2 T cells.
Stimulation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by AbnobaViscum was mediated by the butyrophilin BTN3A.
The activation did not depend on the accumulation of endogenous phosphoantigens.
The response involved the same Vγ9Vδ2 TCR repertoire as phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9Vδ2 T cells.
Limitations: In vitro study using isolated human T cells; no in vivo or clinical data presented.; Sample size and donor details are not reported in the abstract.; Functional activation of T cells in vitro may not predict anti-tumor activity in patients or safety/tolerability.; Mechanistic conclusions (BTN3A involvement, phosphoantigen independence) are limited to the assays described and may not capture full biological complexity in vivo..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Sep 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
What changed recently
The latest additions to Mistletoe (VAE) †Rx's evidence base, and anything that's been retracted.
These are doses as studied or reported, never a recommendation. The right amount of Mistletoe (VAE) †Rx depends on you, your other medicines, and your situation; decide it with your oncology team and pharmacist, not from a web page.
Ranges seen in adjunct / practice use: 0.01–20 mg SC 2-3x/week (SC) Slow titration (e.g., 0.01→0.2→2→10 mg); individualize by reaction, Protocol-dependent (e.g., Iscador M 0.01-20 mg SC 2x/wk); monitor local/systemic response; IV trials 10-200 mg/week..
Trials studying Mistletoe (VAE) †Rx
No actively-recruiting trials matched right now. Recruiting is not the same as proven. Search ClinicalTrials.gov →
Inclusion here is not an endorsement. OncoForge makes no claim beyond what the linked studies show. Discuss anything on this page with your oncology team before acting on it.