Go to Patient Version This cancer information summary provides an overview of the use of high-dose vitamin C (also known as ascorbate or L-ascorbic acid) as a treatment for people with cancer. This summary includes a brief history of early clinical trials of high-dose vitamin C; reviews of laboratory, animal, and human studies; and current clinical trials. This summary contains the following key information: Vitamin C is an essential nutrient with redox functions at normal physiologic concentrations. High-dose vitamin C has been studied as a treatment for cancer patients since the 1970s. Laboratory studies have reported that high-dose vitamin C has redox properties and decreased cell proliferation in prostate, pancreatic, hepatocellular, colon, mesothelioma, and neuroblastoma cell lines. Two studies of high-dose vitamin C in cancer patients reported improved quality of life and decreases in cancer-related side effects. Studies of vitamin C combined with other drugs in animal models have shown mixed results.
Intravenous vitamin C has been generally well tolerated in clinical trials. Many of the medical and scientific terms used in this summary are hypertext linked (at first use in each section) to the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, which is oriented toward nonexperts. When a linked term is clicked, a definition will appear in a separate window. Reference citations in some PDQ cancer information summaries may include links to external Web sites that are operated by individuals or organizations for the purpose of marketing or advocating the use of specific treatments or products. These reference citations are included for informational purposes only. Their inclusion should not be viewed as an endorsement of the content of the Web sites, or of any treatment or product, by the PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board or the National Cancer Institute.We're sorry, but we could not fulfill your request for /high-dose-vitamin-c-protocol-for-cancer/ on this server.
IV Glutathione has a large range of benefits for individuals struggling with neurologic symptoms related to Parkinson's disease, metal and environmental toxicity, and impaired liver detoxification. Intravenous Vitamin C is Vitamin C which enters your body through a small tube inserted into a vein in your arm or through a port. Here is some information to consider before choosing Intravenous Vitamin C: 1) IVC is not considered a "stand alone" therapy. It is one component of comprehensive care which includes dietary, nutritional, and lifestyle changes that support wellness. IVC is used with traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. 2) IV access is needed for IV therapy, we can use an existing port or an easily accessed vein to infuse the IVC.3) Adequate health is a requirement for IVC - one needs to be maintaining good daytime energy, be ambulatory, be able to self-feed, be diligent about lifestyle support, and be maintaining good GI health and nutritional status. 4) IVC is conditional on lab work that allows for initial and ongoing IVC.
Adequate G6PD levels, renal, liver, and bone marrow function are required. 5) Those with certain medical situations are NOT eligible for IVC. These include: tobacco use, use of high-dose methotrexate as an in-patient, congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, spinal cord compressions, kidney stones and some cases of ascites. IVC is typically not recommended simultaneously with radiation treatments. 6) Patients' oncology physicians need to be supportive of IVC and willing to coordinate care. Baseline imaging should be completed before starting IVC. We require ongoing active monitoring by oncology concurrent with IVC therapy.7) Infusion time requirements and financial requirements need to be carefully assessed prior to beginning treatment. 8) Treatment is to be continuous, 2 to 3 times per week. Continuous treatment with IVC, without lapses in treatment, is important in order to lessen any possible risks of increased cancer cell resistance to IVC. 9) IVC is typically continued until there is no detection of cancer for a 12 month period of time and then treatments are tapered, with decreasing frequency of IVC treatments.
Infusions are continued until the decision is made by the patient and provider that IVC is no longer indicated. 10) The decision that a patient is appropriate to start IVC is made collaboratively by KU Integrative medical providers attending Friday chart review after review of their lab results and review of their patient health history. 11) Basic science research and published case reports demonstrate IVC selectively killing cancer cells but not normal cells. There are also studies which show improvement in fatigue and in quality of life measures of those receiving both IVC and conventional anticancer treatments. Fritz, H., Flower, G., Weeks, L., Cooley, K., Callachan, M., McGowan, J., ... Intravenous Vitamin C and Cancer: A Systematic Review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13(4), 280-300. doi:10.1177/1534735414534463OHNO, S., OHNO, Y., & SUZUKI, N. (2009). High-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid) therapy in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Anticancer ..., 29(3), 809-15.
/content/29/3/809.shortWelsh, J. L., Wagner, B. a, van't Erve, T. J., Zehr, P. S., Berg, D. J., Halfdanarson, T. R., ... Cullen, J. J. (2013). Pharmacological ascorbate with gemcitabine for the control of metastatic and node-positive pancreatic cancer (PACMAN): results from a phase I clinical trial. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 71(3), 765-75. doi:10.1007/s00280-013-2070-8Verrax, J., & Calderon, P. B. (2009). Pharmacologic concentrations of ascorbate are achieved by parenteral administration and exhibit antitumoral effects. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 47(1), 32-40. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19254759Ma, Y., Chapman, J., Levine, M., Polireddy, K., Drisko, J., & Chen, Q. (2014). High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Science Translational Medicine, 6(222), 222ra18. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3007154Chen, P., Yu, J., Chalmers, B., Drisko, J., Yang, J., Li, B., & Chen, Q. (2012). Pharmacological ascorbate induces cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells through ATP depletion and induction of autophagy.