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Mistletoe Treatment for Melanoma Brain Metastases: A Single Case

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Skin Cancer and UV Radiation

Summary

Subcutane adjuvant Viscum treatment is given to tumor patients to achieve immunomodulation with stimulation of NK cells, IL-2 activating T lymphocytes (CD25+) and cytokine-associated cytotoxicity. Intralesional Viscum therapy can at present only be used in exceptional cases: for patients who refuse other treatment and for those who no longer respond to treatment. High concentrations of cytotoxic Viscum preparations are injected directly into the tumor in such situations. The case of a patient is reported where intralesional treatment with ABNOBAviscum Betulae and ABNOBAviscum Quercus (dilution level) 2 injected into a melanoma skin secondary caused brain-metastases to regress twice. Treatment with subcutaneous injections and lower concentrations did not prevent the development of new brain and skin metastases. The immunological background to such a remission of brain metastases is not yet known. The patient has been symptom-free since Viscum treatment started in 4/92; at present (1/97) there is no sign of new brain-metastases (CT).

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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von Laue, HB. (1997). Mistletoe Treatment for Melanoma Brain Metastases: A Single Case. In: Altmeyer, P., Hoffmann, K., Stücker, M. (eds) Skin Cancer and UV Radiation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60771-4_154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60771-4_154

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64547-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60771-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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