Vitamin C shots may benefit cancer patients

	Tweet

High-dose intravenously administered vitamin C apparently led to longer-than-expected survival in three patients with advanced cancer, doctors at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues in Canada report. Two of the three patients are still alive without evidence of disease.

In the three cases described in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, vitamin C was given intravenously at doses ranging from 15 to 65 grams to produce plasma concentrations that cannot be achieved by taking vitamin C by mouth.

The first patient was a 51 year-old-women with advanced renal cancer who underwent surgical removal of the kidney but had evidence that the cancer had spread to the lungs. She received IV vitamin C 65 grams twice a week for 10 months, in combination with other alternative therapies. Repeat chest x-ray revealed one small spot, assumed to be a scar. Five years later, new lung masses were detected. The patient again received intravenous vitamin C, with unsuccessful results.

The second patient, a 49-year-old man, had bladder cancer with multiple satellite tumors. He received IV vitamin C 30 grams twice a week for three months, followed by 30 grams vitamin C once every 1-2 months for four years. Nine years after diagnosis, the patient is in good health, without signs of disease.

Case three was a 66-year-old woman with lymphoma invading spinal muscle and bone. She received IV vitamin C 15 g twice weekly for 7 months, then 15 g every 2-3 months for about one year. Ten years after diagnosis, the patient is in good health.

Dr. Mark Levine of the National Institutes of Health and colleagues note that all three patients survived for longer than expected for the types and stages of cancers that they had. At the doses delivered, vitamin C “is a pro-drug for hydrogen peroxide formation,” they explain. Histology results also showed evidence of tumor hemorrhage, attributable to vitamin C.

While early clinical trials of intravenous and oral vitamin C showed benefit in cancer patients, randomized controlled trials of oral vitamin C failed to show benefit. Based on their three patients, “the role of high-dose intravenous vitamin C therapy in cancer treatment should be reassessed,” the authors conclude.

SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal, March 28, 2006.

RELATED STORIES:
New Gene for Childhood Cancer Neuroblastoma Is Discovered   U.S. study faults aggressive end-of-life cancer care   Alcohol and cancer: is drinking the new smoking?   10 ways to make better decisions about cancer care   Cancer Mortality Rates Experience Steady Decline   Targeted Virus Compels Cancer Cells to Eat Themselves   Drug trial victim “has early signs of cancer”   Tiny molecules linked to cancer development   Finding the Right Radiation Facility Is Critical for Cancer Patients   Some tumors contain factors that may block metastasis   Green tea doesn’t lower cancer risk, U.S. FDA says   Lower cancer risk seen with multiple sclerosis   Many cancer survivors still smoking and drinking   Study shows promise for new cancer-stopping therapy   Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy   Combining NSAIDs with chemotherapy, radiation may improve cancer treatment   African Americans still have higher cancer fatality rate   Virginia Tech engineers introduce thermotherapy as a chemotherapy alternative   Marriage tied to better bladder cancer survival   New Therapeutic Target for Melanoma Identified   No brain cancer link to mobile phones, study says   UK cancer map shows way to save 17,000 lives a year

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]