Iscador Qu as Supportive Treatment in Colorectal Cancer (Union International Cancer Control, UICC Stages II-IV)

Prospective Epidemiological Study to Expand Knowledge on Efficacy and Safety of a Routine Post-operative Supportive Therapy With the Mistletoe Extract Iscador® Qu Within Oncological Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Stages UICC II-IV

Efficacy and safety of a supportive treatment with European mistletoe extract Iscador® Qu ("quercus", i.e. from oak tree) in patients with colorectal cancer (Union for International Cancer Control, UICC stages II-IV), in addition to post-operative conventional oncological therapy (radio-, chemo-, targeted therapy) as compared to a parallel group with conventional therapy only.

Primary Endpoints: Reduction of adverse effects of conventional therapy; reduction of therapy or disease induced symptoms (both are quality of life parameters and evaluated after 1 year); prolongation of disease free and/or overall survival (DFS, OS) after 5 years.

Prospective observational confirmation study of previous retrospective cohort study.

As this is a non-interventional cohort study, all therapies and measurements are performed on directive by the treating physician and/or request by the patient only.

see summary

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed diagnosis of colorectal cancer, UICC stage II-IV
• Age between 18 (Austria: 19) and 85 years
• No previous malign tumor
• Surgical resection of the tumor if indicated
• (Post-operative) conventional oncological therapy and measurements, or passive after-care ("best care")
• Follow-up for several years feasible
• Patient gives written consent to use the anonymized date for evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anal cancer
• Other Iscador® sorts than Qu in the test group
• Other mistletoe preparations in the test group
• Any mistletoe preparation in the control group
• Non-oncological immunomodulating, -stimulating or -suppressive drugs (e.g. Echinacea, interferons, Polyerga®, BCG, azathioprine). Allowed are approved tumor inhibiting immuno- or targeted therapies (e.g. bevacizumab, cetuximab) and tumor specific vaccines
• HIV infection, Aids, organ transplantation
• High-dose systemic glucocorticoids
• Contraindications for Iscador® Qu (allergy against mistletoe, acute inflammatory disease or fever > 38.5°C, active tuberculosis, hyperthyreosis with not-adjusted metabolism, primary brain or spinal tumor, brain metastases)
• Known mistletoe intolerance
• Patients participating in another clinical study with non-approved substances