Among the most encouraging mAb is trastuzumab, which targets the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and is indicated in the treatment of breast cancer
bevacizumab, which inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor and is indicated in the treatment of a range of diseases, including colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancer3; and cetuximab, which blocks the epidermal growth factor receptor and is indicated in the treatment of colorectal and lung cancer
Viscum album L (VA or European mistletoe) preparations are widely used as additive cancer therapy in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries, and have been associated with a reduction in chemotherapy-related adverse drug reactions and increased HRQL
leading to enhancement of interleukin-12 secretion and natural killer cell function
VA preparations (Iscador Ltd) did not inhibit chemotherapy-induced cytostasis or cytotoxicity and showed an additive inhibitory effect at higher concentrations of VA.
A multivariable GEE model indicated that the odds for patients experiencing an AE following mAb therapy were nearly 5 times higher compared with that for mAb plus VA
Helixor VA preparations
previous in vitro investigations have shown that VA preparations have either no or minor effects on a range of CYPs, suggesting that VA-drug interactions based on drug metabolism are unlikely
mAb do not undergo hepatic metabolism but undergo proteolytic catabolism throughout the body