High-dose intravenous vitamin C improves quality of life in cancer patients

Takahashi, Hidenori; Mizuno, Haruyoshi; Yanagisawa, Atsuo

doi:10.1016/j.pmu.2012.05.008

Cited by 60 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…ascorbate is given to cancer patients [49,50]. There was also a reported improvement in a nonvalidated symptom score when ascorbate is combined with chemotherapy in breast cancer patients [30,44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is There a Role for Oral or Intravenous Ascorbate (Vitamin C) in Treating Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review

et al. 2015

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Background. Many cancer patients receive supplemental ascorbate (vitamin C) in the belief that it synergizes the anticancer effects of chemotherapy and reduces its toxicity. Methods. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the antitumor effects and toxicity of ascorbate treatment. Medline (1946 to March 2014), EMBASE (1947 to March 2014), and the Cochrane central register (1993 to March 2014) were searched for randomized and observational studies. Results. Of 696 identified records, 61 full‐text articles were screened and 34 were included. In total, 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 322), 12 phase I/II trials (n = 287), 6 observational studies (n = 7,599), and 11 case reports (n = 267) were identified. Because of study heterogeneity, no meta‐analyses were performed. No RCTs reported any statistically significant improvements in overall or progression‐free survival or reduced toxicity with ascorbate relative to control arm. Evidence for ascorbate's antitumor effects was limited to case reports and observational and uncontrolled studies. Conclusion. There is no high‐quality evidence to suggest that ascorbate supplementation in cancer patients either enhances the antitumor effects of chemotherapy or reduces its toxicity. Given the high financial and time costs to patients of this treatment, high‐quality placebo‐controlled trials are needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ascorbate (n 5 4,380 participants) (Table 3). One study was a randomized controlled trial [45], three were nonrandomized phase I or II studies [48][49][50], four were observational studies [10,11,46,47], and four were case reports [9,23,51,52]. The median year of publication was 1991 (range, 1974-2012).…”

Section: Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There a Role for Oral or Intravenous Ascorbate (Vitamin C) in Treating Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review

et al. 2015

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“…In the early trials of Cameron and Campbell, there were also rare cases of massive tumor hemorrhage reported after the administration of high-dose ascorbate in patients with advanced cancers [64, 129]. At this time, several Phase I clinical trials of intravenous ascorbate in patients with advanced cancers have been performed [74, 130–133]. The main focus of these initial trials has been pharmacokinetics, dosing, resulting ascorbate plasma concentrations, and safety.…”

Section: Phase I Clinical Trials Of Pharmacological Ascorbatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pharmacological ascorbate may also affect quality of life in cancer patients [133]. In 60 patients with various newly diagnosed malignant cancers who were receiving adjuvant intravenous ascorbate, quality of life was assessed before beginning treatment, and then at weeks 2 and 4 of therapy [135–137].…”

Section: Phase I Clinical Trials Of Pharmacological Ascorbatementioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer with Pharmacological Ascorbate

Cieslak¹,

Cullen²

2015

CPB

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The prognosis for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer remains dismal, with less than 3% survival at 5 years. Recent studies have demonstrated that high-dose, intravenous pharmacological ascorbate (ascorbic acid, vitamin C) induces cytotoxicity and oxidative stress selectively in pancreatic cancer cells vs. normal cells, suggesting a promising new role of ascorbate as a therapeutic agent. At physiologic concentrations, ascorbate functions as a reducing agent and antioxidant. However, when pharmacological ascorbate is given intravenously, it is possible to achieve millimolar plasma concentration. At these pharmacological levels, and in the presence of catalytic metal ions, ascorbate can induce oxidative stress through the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated ascorbate oxidation occurs extracellularly, generating H2O2 flux into cells resulting in oxidative stress. Pharmacologic ascorbate also inhibits the growth of pancreatic tumor xenografts and displays synergistic cytotoxic effects when combined with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer. Phase I trials of pharmacological ascorbate in pancreatic cancer patients have demonstrated safety and potential efficacy. In this chapter, we will review the mechanism of ascorbate-induced cytotoxicity, examine the use of pharmacological ascorbate in treatment and assess the current data supporting its potential as an adjuvant in pancreatic cancer.

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“…Im Palliativbereich haben sich Vitamin-CInfusionen zur Verbesserung der Lebensqualität bereits bewährt [3][4][5], denn Vitamin C ist ein essenzieller Kofaktor vieler enzymatischer Reaktionen und hat eine große therapeutische Relevanz für das Immun-, Nervenund Gefäßsystem.…”

Section: Klinische Relevanz Für Melanompatientenunclassified

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Complement Med Res

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High-dose intravenous vitamin C improves quality of life in cancer patients

Cited by 60 publications

References 34 publications

Is There a Role for Oral or Intravenous Ascorbate (Vitamin C) in Treating Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review

Is There a Role for Oral or Intravenous Ascorbate (Vitamin C) in Treating Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer with Pharmacological Ascorbate

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