Reducing malignant ascites accumulation by repeated intraperitoneal administrations of a Viscum album extract.

Anticancer Res. 2006 Jan-Feb;26(1B):709-13. Reducing malignant ascites accumulation by repeated intraperitoneal administrations of a Viscum album extract. Bar-Sela G, Goldberg H, Beck D, Amit A, Kuten A. Department of Oncology, Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. g_barsela@rambam.health.gov.il BACKGROUND: Malignant ascites is a major problem in the management of advanced stages of certain malignancies. The possibility of reducing the accumulation of ascites by intraperitoneal injections of a Viscum album extract (Iscador M) was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients, with end-stage malignancies of varying histology, requiring repeated peritoneal punctures, were eligible for analysis. The time-interval between the first two punctures was measured and defined as the baseline. Following each subsequent puncture, Iscador M 10 mg was injected intraperitoneally. The intervals between later punctures were compared to previous intervals. RESULTS: Following the first injection, the median time-interval between injections increased from 7 to 12 days, reaching 13 days after the second injection. No toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: This phase II study suggests that installation of Iscador M into the peritoneal cavity may reduce the need for repeated punctures. A randomized trial is needed to confirm these promising preliminary results.