Convolvulus arvensis in Cancer Treatment
Convolvulus arvensis (bindweed) is NOT recommended for cancer treatment based on current clinical practice guidelines, which explicitly state that herbal drugs lack evidence for clinical management of cancer patients. 1
Guideline-Based Recommendations
The EASL-EORTC clinical practice guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma explicitly state that herbal drugs are not recommended for the clinical management of HCC patients (evidence 1-2A; recommendation 1A/B), placing them in the same category as ineffective treatments like tamoxifen and immunotherapy that failed to show benefit. 1
The American Cancer Society guidelines on nutrition during cancer treatment emphasize that there is little or no evidence supporting the use of dietary supplements and special dietary regimens among cancer survivors, and none should be regarded as an alternative to standard cancer treatment. 1
Why This Matters for Patient Outcomes
Morbidity and Mortality Risk: Using unproven herbal treatments instead of or alongside evidence-based therapies can delay effective treatment, potentially worsening outcomes. 1
Quality of Life Concerns: The guidelines recommend that cancer survivors share information about complementary therapies with healthcare providers to ensure they do not interfere with standard treatment. 1
No Clinical Trial Evidence: Despite preclinical research showing some biological activity, there are no published clinical trials in humans demonstrating efficacy or safety of Convolvulus arvensis for cancer treatment. 2, 3, 4
What the Research Shows (But Cannot Override Guidelines)
While preclinical studies exist, they do not translate to clinical recommendations:
Laboratory Studies Only: A 2002 study showed that high molecular mass extract from Convolvulus arvensis inhibited tumor growth in mice and demonstrated anti-angiogenic effects in chick embryos at doses of 50-200 mg/kg/day. 3
Mechanism Studies: A 2014 study found that proteoglycan mixture from Convolvulus arvensis showed anti-angiogenic activity in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, but had no effect on cancer cell growth in vitro. 4
Phytochemical Analysis: The plant contains various compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and terpenes with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in laboratory settings. 2, 5, 6
Critical Clinical Pitfalls
The major pitfall is assuming that laboratory or animal studies translate to human benefit. The gap between preclinical research and clinical efficacy is enormous—most compounds that show promise in the laboratory fail in human trials. 1
Patients may delay or refuse proven treatments like sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (the only systemic therapy with demonstrated survival benefit) in favor of unproven herbal remedies. 1
Drug interactions are a concern: Herbal products can interfere with chemotherapy metabolism and efficacy through effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes, though specific data for Convolvulus arvensis are lacking. 1
What Should Be Done Instead
For patients with advanced cancer:
Use evidence-based systemic therapies: For hepatocellular carcinoma, sorafenib is indicated for patients with Child-Pugh A liver function and advanced tumors (BCLC C stage). 1
Consider clinical trials: When standard treatments fail or for patients seeking additional options, enrollment in properly designed clinical trials is the appropriate path. 1
Supportive care focus: For patients with advanced disease (BCLC D stage), palliative support including pain management, nutrition, and psychological support should be prioritized over unproven treatments. 1
If a patient insists on using Convolvulus arvensis, they must inform their oncology team to monitor for potential interactions with standard treatments and ensure it does not replace evidence-based therapy. 1