Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41097697›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

The Mistletoe and Breast Cancer (MAB) Study: A UK Mixed-Phase, Pilot, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Controlled Trial.

Lorna J Duncan, Susan Bryant, Gene Feder, Maria Gresham, Poppy Gibson, Debbie Sharp, Jeremy P Braybrooke, Alyson L Huntley

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lorna J DuncanCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9629-030X
Susan BryantCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
Gene FederCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
Maria GreshamBristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK.
Poppy GibsonBristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK.
Debbie SharpCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
Jeremy P BraybrookeBristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK.
Alyson L HuntleyCentre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9409-7891

Funding

Bristol University cancer fund 00Camphill Wellbeing Trust 00Claire Hunter Trust: 00Flexibility and sustainability funding from Avon Primary Care Research Collaborative, UK 0Iscador AG 00School of Primary Care Research Grant (SPCR) UK 00Verein für Krebsforschung (Society for Cancer Research), Arlesheim, Switzerland 00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectiveTo test the feasibility of a mixed-phase, pilot, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of mistletoe therapy (MT) with an embedded qualitative study in the UK National Health Service (NHS) setting.

methodsThe aim was to recruit 45 patients via an NHS oncology centre with a diagnosis of early or locally advanced breast cancer. Participants were allocated to Iscador

resultsSixty-seven patients were approached between August 2019 and March 2020, 15 gave consent, 14 participants were randomised, and 2 withdrew during the trial. Ten participants and five staff were interviewed. Barriers to recruitment were the additional treatments/time, extra injections, and the possibility of placebo allocation. Adherence was very good whilst the participants were on the study therapy. Diaries and interviews indicated that 11/14 participants struggled with injections and skin reactions. There were 22 adverse events due to the MT, related to the injections or skin reactions.

conclusionThis pilot study examined the feasibility of conducting a randomised placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of mistletoe therapy for breast cancer patients within the UK NHS. The results describe the challenges and achievements of recruitment, retention, adherence, blinding, and safety in this context.

Indexed as

breast cancerfeasibilitymistletoepilot randomised controlled trialquality of lifeViscum album

Identifiers

PMID41097697
PMCPMC12524002

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.