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Cancer Outcomes at the Hufeland (Complementary/Alternative Medicine) Klinik: A Best-Case Series Review

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Victor R. Grann, MD, MPH

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, vrg2{at}columbia.edu

Michael A. Gnatt, MD

Department of Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, New York

Hanina Hibshoosh, MD

Department of Pathology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons

John H.M. Austin, MD

Department of Radiology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons

William S. Millar, MD

Department of Radiology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Alfred I. Neugut, MD, PhD

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Purpose: A best-case series review is an efficient tool with which to screen complex complementary and alternative treatments for cancer as candidates for further study. Study Design: The National Cancer Institute and other agencies have adopted the best-case series method to evaluate cancer treatments involving complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for further study. The authors conducted a best-case series review of the Hufeland Klinik. Established in 1985 in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, this facility treats more than 500 cancer patients per year. Hufeland treatment includes dietary modification, injections, ozone therapy, active fever therapy, psychotherapy, and sometimes hormone therapy and/or low-dose chemotherapy. The goal of the treatment is to prolong survival and to maintain good quality of life. Methods: The clinic provided summaries of 27 cases in which patients with longer than expected survival had agreed to make their medical records available for review. The review involved pathologic confirmation of disease and radiologic confirmation of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) not attributable to conventional treatment. Results: Based on the summaries and an exhaustive 2-year search for medical records, slides, and imaging data, 12 of 27 cases were selected for full review, and 5 (3 CRs and 2 PRs) were judged best cases. Conclusion: Most patients with common cancers receive conventional treatment before coming to Hufeland, and many are treated with chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy while there. Hence, only a few could be considered for review. With 5 of 12 patients showing a treatment response, the authors conclude that the Hufeland treatment merits further study. They also recommend the development of criteria with which to evaluate best-case series reviews of complex CAM treatments for patients with advanced cancer.

Key Words: cancer • best-case series • complementary • alternative • holistic • complete response • partial response • survival

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