An Assessment of Mistletoe-Based Drugs Work in Synergy with Radio-Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Glioma in vitro and in vivo in Glioblastoma Bearing Mice | Chapter 3 | Technological Innovation in Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 2

 In Europe, extracts from the mistletoe plant Viscum album L. (VE) have long been used in complementary cancer therapy. Several compounds, such as mistletoe lectins (ML) 1-3 and viscotoxins (VT), are contained in VE, as well as a few minor ingredients. ML-1 is thought to be the primary anti-tumor component of VE, VT causes cell death, and some minor compounds may enhance ML-1's anti-tumor function. ML can stimulate the immune system, cause cytotoxicity, change the expression of cancer-related genes, and influence tumour cell proliferation and motility. The anti-tumor effects of the VE ISCADOR Qu, recombinant ML-1 (Aviscumine), and native ML-1 in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common brain tumour in adults, are investigated in this research. We also wanted to see whether a mistletoe-based therapy could have synergistic results when combined with temozolomide (TMZ) or irradiation as an adjuvant treatment. The drug-induced cytotoxicity is well correlated with the expression of the ML receptor CD75s, which is expressed in GBM specimens and cells but not in the normal brain. The drugs cause cell death in GBM cells in a concentration-dependent manner, trigger a G2/M phase arrest, and have synergistic and additive anti-tumor effects. GBM mice survived longer after a single intratumoral injection of Aviscumine than after tumour irradiation, and even better when combined with radio-chemotherapy. This suggests that using ML-containing drugs as an adjuvant therapy for glioma patients may be helpful.

Author (s) Details

Sonja Schötterl
Department of Science in Biochemistry, University Tuebingen, Germany.

Jennifer T. Miemietz
Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center Neurology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

Elena I. Ilina
Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg; 1, Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg and NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; 84, Rue Val Fleuri, L-1526 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Naita M. Wirsik
Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), Goethe University Frankfurt, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Str. 7, 60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Ingrid Ehrlich
Learning and Memory, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center Neurology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.


Andrea Gall
Learning and Memory, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center Neurology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

Stephan M. Huber
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

Hans Lentzen
MELEMA Pharma GmbH, Hamburg, Germany.

Michel Mittelbronn
Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg; 1, Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg and NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; 84, Rue Val Fleuri, L-1526 Luxembourg, Luxembourg and Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), Goethe University Frankfurt, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Str. 7, 60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany and Laboratoire Nationale de Santé, Dudelange, 1, Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg and Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Naumann
Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center Neurology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

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