Homoeopathic Management of Breast Fibroadenoma—An Open Label, Single Arm, Observational Trial

Abstract

Achtergrond Fibroadenoom van de borst is de meest voorkomende kwaal bij vrouwen met een aanzienlijk risico op overlijden. Uit de beschikbare literatuur blijkt dat borsttumoren verdwijnen door homeopathische behandeling. De huidige studie evalueerde de rol van homeopathische behandeling op borstfibroadenoma met behulp van ‘Triple assessment criteria’ (dubbel blind) en onderzoekt of homeopathische geneesmiddelen therapeutisch effect teweeg brengen door het veranderen van de oestrogeen en progesteron receptor (ER/PR) status op tumorweefsel.

Materialen en Methoden Een open-label, prospectieve, single-arm, observationele studie werd uitgevoerd bij 64 vrouwelijke patiënten met fibroadenoom van de borst. Er werden drievoudige beoordelingscriteria gebruikt om de doeltreffendheid van de homeopathische behandeling van borstfibroadenomen te onderzoeken. Geïndividualiseerde homeopathische geneesmiddelen werden voorgeschreven. De meetresultaten vertoonden veranderingen in het klinisch beeld en het aantal en de omvang van de knobbels door middel van ultrasoonmammografie. ER/PR studie werd uitgevoerd door immunohistochemie met gebruik van quick score analyse.

Resultaten Bij 23 gevallen (35,93%) van fibroadenomen was er na de behandeling geen knobbel meer meetbaar. Gedeeltelijke verbetering werd waargenomen in 22 gevallen (34,37%) met significante vermindering van de gemiddelde grootte (p < 0,001). Ook werd een significante vermindering van het aantal laesies gezien bij fibroadenomen (p < 0,05). Conium maculatum en Phytolacca decandra bleken de meest bruikbare remedies te zijn. De quick score waarde van ER na behandeling toonde significante vermindering (Z ¼ 4.910).

Conclusie De studie toont aan dat de therapeutische effecten van toediening van geïndividualiseerde homeopathische geneesmiddelen een belangrijke rol spelen bij de behandeling van fibroadenomen van de borst. De resultaten van ER/PR laten een significante vermindering van ER zien, wat suggereert dat homeopathische geneesmiddelen een remmend effect hebben op ER.

Keywords

fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) - ultrasonomammography - oestrogen receptor (ER) - progesterone receptor (PR) - homoeopathy - breast fibroadenoma

Author Contribution

PS: Concept, literature search, clinical study, data acquisition, data interpretation and preparation of the article; PM: About the present modern medicine intervention, drafting the paper; RK Misra: Expert opinion regarding pathological investigation; RKJ: Ultrasonological examination and expert opinion; RS: Research advice; RK Manchanda and AK: Technical opinion regarding research. All the authors reviewed and approved the final paper.

Financial Support

The project was funded under the Extra-Mural Research Scheme of Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, Government of India (vide letter no F. No - 23 - 111/2009 - 10/CCRH/Tech/EMR/8758 dated 7th September 2009). Technical and administrative support was provided by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy.

The article was published originally in Homoeopathic Links 2020;33(2):90-98 with DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712479.

Publication History

Article published online:
11 November 2021

• References

• 1 Srivatsava A, Dhar A. Benign breast disease: a neglected entity. Recent Adv Surg 2006; 10: 175-201
• 2 Bradber J, Thompson K. Lumps in the Breast. Surgical problems in Clinical Practice by Johan Fry and Hadley; London: Arnold Publication Ltd; 1987: 56-67
• 3 Beers MH, Berkow R, Fletcher AJ. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis. 16th edition. USA New Jersey: Merck & Co. INC, Merck Research Laboratories; 1998: 1814-1815
• 4 https://breastcancer.about.com/od/breastcancersurgery/a/fibro-treatment-hub.htm [Accessed Nov 24, 2019]
• 5 http://www.cancer.net/research-and-advocacy/asco-care-and-treatment-recommendations-Patients/ hormonal-therapy-hormone-receptor-positive-breast-cancer hormone [Accessed Nov 24, 2019]
• 6 India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH.AYUSH in India. [Accessed Nov 24, 2019] from http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in
• 7 Burnett JC. Curability of Tumours by Homoeopathic Medicine. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2002: 47-61
• 8 Clarke JH. The Cure of Tumours by Medicines, with special reference to the Cancer Nosodes. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers; 1992: 94-157
• 9 Moiloa MRA, Brodie KJ, Roohani J. The efficacy of Phytolacca decandra in the treatment of fibroadenoma of the breast. AJHM 2006; 99 (02) 116-119
• 10 Webb AJ. The treacherous fibroadenoma: a ‘mighty mouse’. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1996; 78 (06) 557-558
• 11 Dixon JM, Masterton G, Pugh R, Sainbury JRC. Handbook of Diseases of Breast. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston; 1998: 43-47
• 12 Wilkinson S, Anderson TJ, Rifkind E, Chetty U, Forrest AP. Fibroadenoma of the breast: a follow-up of conservative management. Br J Surg 1989; 76 (04) 390-391
• 13 Cant PJ, Madden MV, Close PM, Learmonth GM, Hacking EA, Dent DM. Case for conservative management of selected fibro-adenomas of the breast. Br J Surg 1987; 74 (09) 857-859
• 14 Dixon JM, Dobie V, Lamb J, Walsh JS, Chetty U. Assessment of the acceptability of conservative management of fibroadenoma of the breast. Br J Surg 1996; 83 (02) 264-265
• 15 Singh K, Azad T, Gupta GD. The accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosis of palpable breast lumps. JK Sci 2008; 10 (04) 186-188
• 16 Khan SA, Rogers MA, Khurana KK, Meguid MM, Numann PJ. Estrogen receptor expression in benign breast epithelium and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998; 90 (01) 37-42
• 17 Woolcott CG, SenGupta SK, Hanna WM, Aronson KJ. Estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in nonneoplastic breast epithelium of breast cancer cases versus benign breast biopsy controls. BMC Cancer 2008; 8: 130
• 18 McGuire WL, Horwitz KB, Pearson OH, Segaloff A. Current status of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer. Cancer 1977; 39 (06) 2934-2947
• 19 Bassett LW, Mitchelle Jr JW. The Female Breast and Its Disorders. Maryland: Williams and Wilkins; 1990: 92-99
• 20 Carr PF, Freund KM, Somani S. The Medical Care of Women. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co; 1995: 144-152
• 21 Blackwell RE, Groting JC. Diagnosis and Management of Breast Diseases. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1996: 99-100 , 166–177, 190–191
• 22 Frederick C, Koerner FC. O' Connell JX. Fibroadenoma: morphological observations and a theory of pathogenesis. Pathol Annu 1994; 29 (01) 1-19 [PMID: 8127621]
• 23 Underwood JCE. General and Systemic Pathology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston; 2000: 479-480
• 24 Way LN. Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. 10th edition. New Jersey: Appleton and Lange Paramount Publishing Business; 1996: 314-315
• 25 Yelland A, Gazet JC, Coombes RC. Conservative management of fibroadenoma of the breast. Br J Surg 1996; 83 (11) 1653
• 26 Kinsella MD, Nassar A, Siddiqui MT, Cohen C. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression pre- and post- neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast carcinoma: a single institutional experience. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2012; 5 (06) 530-536 [PMID: 22949935]
• 27 Shukla P, Nayak C, Baig MQ, Misra P. A systematic review of controlled trials of homeopathy in adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer. Homoeopathic Links 2019; 32 (03) 131-140