Evidence-based complementary oncology: innovative approaches to optimise standard therapy strategies

Cancer diseases demand diagnostic and therapeutic measures with proven quality, safety and efficacy. Bases for evaluation of new clinical and therapeutic measures are clinical studies representing level I (randomised controlled trials [RCTs]) or level II (epidemiological cohort studies), in accordance with recommendations of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, UK. Evidence-based treatment of cancer follows recommendations of international expert panels and includes indication-based surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone and antibody therapy. These therapies have all proven their potency to destroy cancer and their curative feasibility. This review provides an overview of some of the complementary therapies that are also recommended to support and optimise the standard evidence based cancer treatments.

Beuth J. Anticancer Res. 2010 May;30(5):1767-71. Institute of Naturopathy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. hans.beuth@uk-koeln.de