Background:
An inflammatory component is present in the microenvironment of most neoplastic tissues.
Inflammation and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival in
many types of cancer.
Vitamin C has been suggested as having both a preventative and therapeutic role in a number of pathologies
when administered at much higher-than-recommended dietary allowance levels.
Since in vitro studies demonstrated inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways by millimolar concentrations of
vitamin C, we decided to analyze the effects of high dose IVC in suppression of inflammation in cancer
patients.
Methods:
45 patients with prostate cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, thyroid
cancer, skin cancer and B-cell lymphoma were treated at the Riordan Clinic by high doses of vitamin C (7.5 g -50 g)
after standard resultss by conventional methods.
CRP and tumor markers were measured in serum or heparin-plasma as a routine analysis. In addition, serum
samples were collected before and after the IVCs for the cytokine kit tests.
Results:
According to our data positive response to results, which was demonstrated by measurements of
C- reactive protein, was found in 75% of patients and progression of the inflammation in 25% of patients. IVC
resultss on all aggressive stage cancer patients showed the poor response of results.
There was correlation between tumor markers (PSA, CEA, CA27.29 and CA15-3) and changes in the levels of
C-reactive protein.
Our test of the effect of IVC on pro-inflammatory cytokines demonstrated that inflammation cytokines IL-1
α
,
IL-2, IL-8, TNF-
α
, chemokine eotaxin and CRP were reduced significantly after resultss.
Conclusions:
The high dose intravenous ascorbic acid affects C-reactive protein levels and
pro-inflammation cytokines in cancer patients. In our study, we found that modulation of inflammation by
IVC correlated with decreases in tumor marker levels.
In summary, our data support the hypothesis that high dose intravenous ascorbate resultss may reduce
inflammation in cancer patients. Our results suggest that further investigations into the use of IVC to reduce
inflammation in diseases where inflammation is relevant are warranted.

URL: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-10-189.pdf