Immunotherapy using mistletoe extracts

Gliomas are highly malignant intrinsic brain tumors. Overexpression of TGF-b is a typical feature of gliomas in vitro and in vivo. Elevated concentrations of TGF-β are detectable in glioma cyst fluids and in the cerebrospinal fluid of glioma patients. TGF-β plays a key role in malignant glioma progression. It blocks the activation of immune cells via downregulation of immunoactivating ligands on glioma cells and induces apoptosis of T and natural killer (NK) cells

ISCADOR® is an extract of the corean or european mistletoe (Viscum album). Application of ISCADOR® induces activation of NK-cells, reduces the growth and metastasis of colon cancer in a mouse tumor model and prolongs the survival of tumor bearing mice. This project focuses on the effects of ISCADOR® on the TGF-β-mediated glioma-specific immunosuppression and should demonstrate in how far ISCADOR® mediates invasion and migration of glioma cells and if ISCADOR® is able to prolong the survival of glioma-bearing mice.

Supported by: Hans Sauer-Foundation

(Contact person: Dr. U. Naumann)