Homeopathy, Table of Contents

Homeopathy 2014; 103(04): 232-238
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2014.06.001

Original Paper

Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2014

Open-label uncontrolled pilot study to evaluate complementary therapy with Ruta graveolens 9c in patients with advanced cancer

Gilles Freyer

¹Université de Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France

,

Benoit You

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Stéphanie Villet

³BOIRON, 2 avenue de l'ouest lyonnais, 69510 Messimy, France

,

Sophie Tartas

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Cécile Fournel-Federico

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Véronique Trillet-Lenoir

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Salima Hamizi

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Olivier Colomban

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Nathalie Chavernoz

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

,

Claire Falandry

²Centre d'Investigation des Therapeutiques en Onco-hématologie des HCL (CITOH – phase 1 – INCA), Unité de Coordination Onco-gériatrique de Lyon, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CH Lyon-Sud, France

› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:

Background: Patients with advanced metastatic disease are often treated aggressively with multiple lines of chemotherapy, even in the last month of life. The benefit of such an approach remains uncertain. The objective of the study was to investigate whether Ruta graveolens 9c homeopathic medicine can improve quality of life (QoL) and tumour progression in patients with advanced cancer.

Material and methods: This was a single-centre, open-label, uncontrolled, pilot study. Patients (>18-years, life-expectancy ≥3 months, performance status ≤2) with locally-advanced solid tumours or metastases, previously treated with all available standard anti-cancer treatments were recruited. Oral treatment consisted of two 1-mL ampoules of Ruta graveolens (9c dilution) given daily for a minimum of 8 weeks, or until tumour and/or clinical progression. Primary outcome was QoL measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures were anxiety/depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), WHO performance status (PS), tumour progression assessed using RECIST criteria and tumour markers, survival and tolerance.

Results: Thirty-one patients were included (mean age: 64.3 years). Mean duration of treatment was 3.3 months (median: 2.1). QoL global health status improved significantly between baseline and week 8 (P < 0.001) and week 16 (P = 0.035), but was at the limit of significance (P = 0.057) at the end of the study. There was no significant change in anxiety/depression or PS during treatment. Ruta graveolens 9c had no obvious effect on tumour progression. Median survival was 6.7 months [95%CI: 4.8–14.9]. Ruta graveolens 9c was well-tolerated.

Conclusion: Some patients treated with Ruta graveolens 9c had a transitory improvement in QoL, but the effectiveness of this treatment remains to be confirmed in further studies.

Keywords

Keywords

Pilot study - Ruta graveolens 9c - Advanced cancer - Treatment failure - Quality of life - Best supportive care

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