The effectiveness of fermented wheat germ extract as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

Review question/objective: The objective of this review is to synthesise the best available evidence on effectiveness of fermented wheatgerm extract (Avemar) as an adjunct therapy to conventional cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapies, in the treatment of haematological and non-haematological cancers. Types of participants: This review will consider studies that include participants of any age or gender. It will include all types of cancer presentations at any stage of the disease. Cancers will be addressed regardless of diagnosis, prognosis or location of cancer. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest: This review will consider studies that evaluate, as intervention, the orally administered Avemar as an adjunct therapy to any conventional cancer treatment such as surgery, hormone therapies, chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy for cancer patients, when compared to conventional cancer treatment alone. The review will consider participants able to take or assisted to take Avemar administered orally or via nasogastric or nasoenteric tube feeding directly into the stomach. Types of outcomes: This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: -patients survival, expressed for example as survival rates -disease progression including new metastases and new recurrence of disease -patients mortality, expressed for example as mortality rate -type and severity of side effects experienced by patients, compared between groups -presence of adverse effects in the adjunct therapy group