Treating Cancer with High Dose
(IV or liposomal) Vitamin C, and Vit C as Effective Adjunct Treatment or
Combination Treatment
Documentation of Effectiveness
Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Cancer, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins , 3rd Edition Paperback – August 1, 2011; by MD JD Thomas E Levy
He quickly found the medical journals were filled with thousands
of studies and articles about vitamin C. Many of them reported similarly
dramatic results with a myriad of diseases and other difficult medical
conditions. Dr. Levy knew that this was information that all his colleagues
needed. Consequently, he was compelled to spend the next four years researching
and writing
Curing the Incurable
. vy has taken great care
to research, document, and report the vital truths about vitamin C — he cites
over
1,200 scientific references.
Curing the Incurable
provides
the information you need to most effectively use vitamin C to:
·
Prevent, cure, reverse and/or greatly
improve a large list of health conditions.
·
Cut your mortality risk (from all
causes) by as much as 50%.
·
Boost your immune system and energy
levels to optimum levels.
Optimize blood and intracellular
levels of vitamin C, & Dramatically increase bio-availability (up to 800%
or more) without increasing your dose size.
Vitamin C: The Real Story
, the Remarkable and Controversial Healing
Factor- Paperback – October 23, 2015; by
Steve Hickey
PhD,
Andrew W. Saul
PhD
You will see
that mega doses of vitamin C have proven to be an effective antibiotic,
a
nontoxic anticancer agent
, and also a treatment for heart disease.
Hidden
Epidemic: Silent Oral Infections Cause Most Heart Attacks and Breast
Cancers
, September 2017.
Stop America's #1 Killer 2nd
ed. Edition by
MD JD Levy
(Author),
MD Julian Whitaker
(Foreword). ( Most heart disease is
a reversable arterial scurvy)
Anticancer Res.
2019
Feb;39(2):751-758. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.13172.
Lee SJ
1,2
,
Jeong JH
1,3
,
Lee IH
1,2
,
Lee J
1,4
,
Jung JH
1,4
,
Park HY
5,4
,
Lee DH
6
,
Chae YS
5,2
.
The anti-cancer effect of high
doses of intravenous vitamin C (high-dose vitamin C)
remains controversial despite growing evidence that high-dose vitamin
C exerts anti-tumorigenic activity by increasing the amount of reactive
oxygen species in cancer cells without meaningful toxicities.
Therefore, this study attempted to demonstrate the in vitro
anti-cancer activity of high-dose vitamin C in combination with
conventional treatment in breast cancer.
The pro-apoptotic effects of
high-dose vitamin C (1.25 to 20 mM) with or without
anti-cancer agents (eribulin mesylate, tamoxifen, fulvestrant,
or trastuzumab) were estimated using an MTT assay to measure the cell viability
of a variety of breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, SK-BR3, and
MDA-MB-231), as well as normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10A).
High-dose vitamin
C (≥10 mM) significantly decreased cell viability of all
breast cancer cell lines, particularly of MCF-7 cells.
The catalase activities of MCF7 and MDA-MD-231 cells were also
lower than those of MCF10A cells. Moreover, cell viability of both MCF7 and
MDA-MD-231 cells was decreased further when combining high-dose vitamin
C and eribulin mesylate, and this was also true for MCF-7 cells
when combining high-dose vitamin C with tamoxifen
or fulvestrant and for SK-BR3 cells when combining
high-dose vitamin C with trastuzumab in comparison with chemotherapy
or endocrine therapy alone.
Grape
Seed Extract Plus Vitamin C Suppresses Tumor Growth in Mice by Reprogramming
Cancer Immunity
The GSE + vitamin C combination produced the
largest mean tumor reduction (76.61%), exceeding either monotherapy and
numerically surpassing doxorubicin (68.82%) within this specific mouse model.
Combination therapy significantly increased caspase-3–mediated apoptosis,
reduced Ki-67 proliferation, increased CD4+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating
lymphocytes, and decreased FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, suggesting relief of
local immune suppression. Cytokine analysis demonstrated a consistent Th1/Th2
shift toward Th1, with elevated IL-12 and IFN-γ and reduced IL-4 and IL-10.
Tumors also showed heightened oxidative stress, an established mechanism of
selective cancer cell injury.
Combining
high-dose vitamin C with conventional anti-cancer drugs can have
therapeutic advantages against breast cancer cells.
Med Hypotheses.
2019 Jan;122:8-9. doi:
10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.006. Epub 2018 Oct 11.
Valachová K
1
,
Juránek I
2
,
Rapta P
3
,
Valent I
4
,
Šoltés L
2
.
Ascorbate
administered intravenously gives a high plasma concentration of this drug.
Clinical trials with pancreatic carcinoma patients revealed their prolonged
survival if treated with intravenous ascorbate. On the other hand,
high plasma ascorbate concentration leads to severe side effects, such as
nephrotoxicity. In the present paper, we advocate to
lower intravenous ascorbate dosage along with monothiol
N-acetylcysteine
pretreatment due to anticipation of the same therapeutic effect but less or
none of side effects
. We describe in detail molecular mechanism of
ascorbate action to be potentiated by N-acetylcysteine, as observed under in
vitro conditions. Providing further arguments, we believe that the same
mechanism may be employed in vivo.
PubMed High
dose Vitamin C & Cancer (hundreds of studies)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=high+dose+vitamin+C+cancer
&
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=high+dose+ascorbate+cancer
&
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=vitamin+c+cancer
Life Sci.
2019
Jul 12:116657. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116657. [Epub ahead of print]
Ryszawy D
1
,
Pudełek M
2
,
Catapano J
2
,
Ciarach M
3
,
Setkowicz Z
3
,
Konduracka E
4
,
Madeja Z
2
,
Czyż J
5
.
Constant
development of chemotherapeutic strategies has considerably improved the
efficiency of tumor treatment. However, adverse effects of chemotherapeutics
enforce premature treatment cessation, which leads to the tumor recurrence and
accelerated death of oncologic patients. Recently, sodium ascorbate (ASC) has
been suggested as a promising drug for the adjunctive chemotherapy of
glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and prostate cancer (PC). To estimate
whether ASC can interfere with tumor recurrence between the first and
second-line chemotherapy, we analyzed the effect of high ASC doses on the
expansion of cells in vitro and in vivo.
Brightfield
microscopy-assisted approaches were used to estimate the effect of ASC
(1-14 mM) on the morphology and invasiveness of human GBM, rat PC and normal
3T3 cells, whereas cytostatic/pro-apoptotic activity of ASC was estimated with
flow cytometry. These assays were complemented by the in
vitro CellROX-assisted analyses of intracellular oxidative stress and in
vivo estimation of GBM tumor invasion.
ASC
considerably decreased the proliferation and motility of GBM and PC cells. This
effect was accompanied by intracellular ROS over-production and necrotic death
of tumor cells
,
apparently resulting from their "autoschizis". In vivo studies
demonstrated the retardation of GBM tumor growth and invasion in the rats
undergone intravenous ASC administration, in the absence of
detectable systemic adverse effects of ASC.
Our
data support previous notions on anti-tumor activity of high ASC doses.
However, autoschizis-related cell
responses to ASC indicate that its application in human adjunctive tumor
therapy should be considered with caution.
Nutrients.
2019
Apr 28;11(5). pii: E977. doi: 10.3390/nu11050977.
The Effect of Vitamin
C (Ascorbic Acid) in the Treatment of Patients with Cancer: A
Systematic Review.
van Gorkom GNY
1
,
Lookermans EL
2
,
Van Elssen CHMJ
3
,
Bos GMJ
4
.
Abstract
Many cancer patients
on intensive chemotherapy lack vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates
the production and activation of immune cells, so perhaps supplementation could
be used to improve the immunity in those patients. This review assesses the
effectiveness and safety of vitamin C administration in cancer.
The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched and all study designs except for
phase I studies, and case reports were included in this review. A total of 19
trials were included. In only 4 trials randomization was used to determine if
patients received vitamin C or a placebo. The result of this review
does not prove that there is a clinically relevant positive effect
of vitamin C supplementation in cancer patients in general on
the overall survival, clinical status, quality of life (QOL) and performance
status (PS), since the quality of the studies published is low. Interventions
and patient groups are very diverse, hence an effect in some patient groups is
possible. There seems to be a
better effect with intravenous than
oral administration.
Nevertheless, treatment with vitamin
C is safe with minimal side effects. Thereby, we think it is safe to
examine the effects of vitamin C on specific groups of patients in a
randomized controlled setting.
Int J Mol Sci.
2018
Sep 13;19(9). pii: E2752. doi: 10.3390/ijms19092752.
Ascorbic Acid in Colon Cancer: From the Basic to the Clinical Applications.
El Halabi I
1
,
Bejjany R
2
,
Nasr R
3
,
Mukherji D
4
,
Temraz S
5
,
Nassar FJ
6
,
El Darsa H
7
,
Shamseddine A
8
.
Abstract
Given the safety and potential
benefits of intravenous ascorbic acid (AA) administration
in cancer patients, there is merit in further exploring this
therapeutic concept. In this review, we discuss the potential benefits of intravenous AA
administration on colorectal cancer and we specifically focus on its
effect on glycolysis in mutant and wild type
RAS
. We perform a
PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE search using ascorbic
acid, intravenous vitamin C,
KRAS
mutation,
BRAF
mutation
and colorectal cancer (CRC) as keywords. At the cellular level,
colorectal cancer cells undergo a metabolic shift called the Warburg effect
to allow for more glucose absorption and utilization of glycolysis. This shift
also allows AA to enter which leads to a disruption in the Warburg effect and a
shutdown of the downstream
KRAS
pathway in mutated
KRAS
colon cancer cells.
At
the clinical level, AA is associated with tumour regression in
advanced disease and improved tolerability and side effects of standard
therapy. Based on these findings, we conclude that further clinical trials are
needed on a larger scale to examine the therapeutic benefits of AA in
colon cancer.
Antioxidants (Basel).
2018 Aug
30;7(9). pii: E115. doi: 10.3390/antiox7090115.
The Use of Intravenous Vitamin C as a Supportive Therapy for a Patient with Glioblastoma Multiforme.
Baillie N
1
,
Carr AC
2
,
Peng S
3
.
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is
a high grade malignant brain tumour with a poor prognosis.
Here we report the case of a woman with glioblastoma who lived for over four
years from diagnosis (median survival 12 months and 2% survival for three
years), experiencing good quality of life for most of that time. She underwent
initial debulking craniotomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as
having intravenous vitamin C infusions 2
⁻
3 times weekly over the four years from
diagnosis. Her progress was monitored by blood tests,
regular computerisedtomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
scans, clinical reviews and European Organization for the Research and
Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ
C30).
Our case report highlights the benefits
of intravenous vitamin C as a supportive therapy for patients
with glioblastoma.
Cancer Manag Res.
2018
Jul 13;10:2003-2018. doi:
10.2147/CMAR.S161824. eCollection 2018.
Evidence-based complementary treatment of pancreatic cancer: a review of adjunct therapies including paricalcitol, hydroxychloroquine, intravenous vitamin C, statins, metformin, curcumin, and aspirin.
Bigelsen S
1
.
Abstract
Despite new and exciting research
and renewed optimism about future therapy, current statistics of survival from
pancreatic cancer remains dismal. Patients seeking alternative or
complementary treatments should be warned to avoid the hype and instead look to
real science. A variety of relatively safe and inexpensive treatment options
that have shown success in preclinical models and/or retrospective studies are
currently available. Patients require their physicians to provide therapeutic
guidance and assistance in obtaining and administrating these various
therapies. Paricalcitol, an analog of vitamin D, has been shown by researchers
at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies to break though the protective
stroma surrounding tumor cells. Hydroxychloroquine has been shown to inhibit
autophagy, a process by which dying cells recycle injured organelles and
internal toxins to generate needed energy for survival and reproduction.
Intravenous vitamin
C creates a toxic accumulation of hydrogen peroxide within cancer
cells, hastening their death
. Metformin inhibits mitochondrial oxidative
metabolism utilized by cancer stem cells. Statins inhibit not only
cholesterol but also other factors in the same pathway that
affect cancer cell growth, protein synthesis, and cell cycle progression.
A
novel formulation of curcumin may prevent resistance to chemotherapy and
inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation.
Aspirin
therapy has been shown to prevent pancreatic cancer and may be useful
to prevent recurrence. These therapies are all currently available and are
reviewed in this paper with emphasis on the most recent laboratory research and
clinical studies.
Antioxidants (Basel).
2018 Jul
12;7(7). pii: E89. doi: 10.3390/antiox7070089.
Nauman G
1
,
Gray JC
2
,
Parkinson R
3
,
Levine M
4
,
Paller CJ
5
.
Ascorbate (vitamin C) has been
evaluated as a potential treatment for cancer as an independent agent
and in combination with standard chemotherapies. This review assesses the
evidence for safety and clinical effectiveness of intravenous (IV)
ascorbate in treating various types of cancer.
Single arm and randomized Phase
I/II trials were included in this review. The PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane
databases were searched. Results were screened by three of the authors (GN, RP,
and CJP) to determine if they met inclusion criteria, and then summarized using
a narrative approach.
A total of 23 trials involving 385
patients met the inclusion criteria. Only one trial, in ovarian cancer,
randomized patients to receive vitamin C or standard of care
(chemotherapy). That trial reported
an 8.75 month increase in
progression-free survival (PFS) and an improved trend in overall survival (OS)
in the vitamin C treated arm
.
Overall
, vitamin C has
been shown to be safe in nearly all patient populations, alone and in
combination with chemotherapies
. The promising results support the need for
randomized placebo-controlled trials such as the ongoing placebo-controlled
trials of vitamin C and chemotherapy in prostate cancer.
NPJ Precis Oncol.
2018 Jan
8;2(1):1. doi: 10.1038/s41698-017-0044-8. eCollection 2018.
Vitamin C preferentially kills cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma via SVCT-2.
Lv H
#1
,
Wang C
#1,2
,
Fang T
#1
,
Li T
1
,
Lv G
1,3
,
Han Q
1
,
Yang W
1,3
,
Wang H
1,3,4
.
Abstract
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate,
VC) is a potential chemotherapeutic agent for cancer patients.
However, the anti-tumor effects of pharmacologic VC on hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) and liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) remain to be fully
elucidated. Panels of human HCC cell lines as well as HCC patient-derived
xenograft (PDX) models were employed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of
pharmacologic VC. The use of VC and the risk of HCC recurrence were examined
retrospectively in 613 HCC patients who received curative liver resection as
their initial treatment. In vitro and in vivo experiments further demonstrated
that clinically achievable concentrations of VC induced cell death in
liver cancer cells and the response to VC was correlated with
sodium-dependent vitamin Ctransporter 2 (SVCT-2) expressions.
Mechanistically, VC uptake via SVCT-2 increased intracellular ROS, and
subsequently caused DNA damage and ATP depletion, leading to cell cycle arrest
and apoptosis. Most importantly, SVCT-2 was highly expressed in liver CSCs,
which promoted their self-renewal and rendered them more sensitive to VC. In
HCC cell lines xenograft models, as well as in PDX models, VC dramatically
impaired tumor growth and eradicated liver CSCs. Finally, retrospective cohort
study showed that intravenous VC use was linked to improved
disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients (adjusted HR = 0.622, 95% CI 0.487
to 0.795,
p
< 0.001). Our data highlight that
pharmacologic
VC can effectively kill liver cancer cells and preferentially
eradicate liver CSCs, which provide further evidence supporting VC as a novel
therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.
Integr
Cancer
Ther.
2018 Sep;17(3):912-920. doi:
10.1177/1534735418775809. Epub 2018 May 17.
Bazzan AJ
1
,
Zabrecky G
1
,
Wintering N
1
,
Newberg AB
1
,
Monti DA
1
.
Intravenous
ascorbic acid
(IV AA) has been used extensively
in cancer patients throughout the United States. Currently, there are
limited data on the safety and clinical effects of IV AA. The purpose of this
study was to expand the current literature using a retrospective analysis of
adverse events and symptomatic changes of IV AA in a large sample
of cancer patients.
We conducted a retrospective chart
review of all patients receiving IV AA for cancer at the Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital over a 7-year period. We assessed all reports of
adverse events, laboratory findings, and hospital or emergency department
admissions. We also reviewed quality-of-life data, including fatigue, nausea,
pain, appetite, and mood.
There were 86 patients who received
a total of 3034 doses of IV AA ranging from 50 to 150g. In all, 32 patients
received only ascorbic acid as part of
their cancer management (1197 doses), whereas 54 patients
received ascorbic acid in conjunction with chemotherapy (1837 doses).
The most common adverse events related to ascorbic acid were
temporary nausea and discomfort at the injection site. All events reported in
the ascorbic acid alone group were associated with less than 3% of
the total number of infusions.
Patients, overall, reported improvements
in fatigue, pain, and mood while receiving ascorbic acid.
The results of this retrospective
analysis support the growing evidence that
IV AA is generally safe and
well tolerated in patients with cancer, and may be useful in symptom
management and improving quality of life.
Anticancer Drugs.
2018
Apr;29(4):373-379. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000603.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer with intravenous vitamin C: a case report.
Drisko JA
1
,
Serrano OK
2
,
Spruce LR
3
,
Chen Q
4
,
Levine M
5
.
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
(PDA) has a dismal prognosis and is often discovered at an advanced stage with
few therapeutic options. Current conventional regimens for PDA are associated
with significant morbidity, decreased quality of life, and a considerable
financial burden. As a result, some patients turn to integrative medicine
therapies as an alternate option after a diagnosis of
PDA. Intravenous pharmacologic ascorbic acid (PAA) is one
such treatment. The use of PAA has been passionately debated for many years,
but more recent rigorous scientific research has shown that there are
significant blood concentration differences when ascorbic acid is
given parenterally when compared to oral dosing. This pharmacologic difference
appears to be critical for its role in oncology. Here, we report the use of PAA
in a patient with poorly differentiated stage IV PDA as an exclusive
chemotherapeutic regimen. The
patient survived nearly 4 years after
diagnosis, with PAA as his sole treatment, and he achieved objective regression
of his disease.
He died from sepsis and organ failure from a bowel
perforation event. This case illustrates the possibility of PAA to effectively
control tumor progression and serve as an adjunct to standard of care PDA
chemotherapy regimens. Our patient's experience with PAA should be taken into
consideration, along with previous research in cell, animal, and clinical
experiments to design future treatment trials.
Clin Exp Metastasis.
2018
Feb;35(1-2):37-51. doi: 10.1007/s10585-018-9876-z. Epub 2018 Feb
2.
Pharmacologic ascorbate (P-AscH - ) suppresses hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Wilkes JG
1,2
,
O'Leary BR
1,2
,
Du J
1,2
,
Klinger AR
1
,
Sibenaller ZA
1
,
Doskey CM
1
,
Gibson-Corley KN
3,4
,
Alexander MS
1,2
,
Tsai S
5
,
Buettner GR
1,4
,
Cullen JJ
6,7,8,9,10
.
1
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa Carver
College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
2
Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Carver College of
Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
3
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of
Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
4
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
5
The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
6
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa Carver
College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA. joseph-cullen@uiowa.edu.
7
Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Carver College of
Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA. joseph-cullen@uiowa.edu.
8
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
joseph-cullen@uiowa.edu.
9
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
joseph-cullen@uiowa.edu.
10
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 1528 JCP, 200 Hawkins
Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. joseph-cullen@uiowa.edu.
Abstract
HIF-1α is a transcriptional
regulator that functions in the adaptation of cells to hypoxic conditions; it
strongly impacts the prognosis of patients with cancer.
High-dose, intravenous, pharmacological ascorbate (P-AscH
-
),
induces cytotoxicity and oxidative stress selectively in cancer cells
by acting as a pro-drug for the delivery of hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
);
early clinical data suggest improved survival and inhibition of metastasis in
patients being actively treated with P-AscH
-
. Previous studies have
demonstrated that activation of HIF-1α is necessary for P-AscH
-
sensitivity.
We hypothesized that
pancreatic cancer (PDAC) progression and
metastasis could be be targeted by P-AscH
-
via H
2
O
2
-mediated
inhibition of HIF-1α stabilization. Our study demonstrates an oxygen- and
prolyl hydroxylase-independent regulation of HIF-1α by P-AscH
-
.
Additionally
, P-AscH
-
decreased VEGF secretion in a dose-dependent manner that was
reversible with catalase, consistent with an H
2
O
2
-mediated
mechanism.
Pharmacological
and genetic manipulations of HIF-1α did not alter P-AscH
-
-induced
cytotoxicity. In vivo,
P-AscH
-
inhibited tumor growth and
VEGF expression.
We conclude that P-AscH
-
suppresses the levels of HIF-1α protein in hypoxic conditions
through a post-translational mechanism. These findings suggest potential new
therapies specifically designed to inhibit the mechanisms that drive metastases
as a part of PDAC treatment.
Leuk Res.
2018 Mar;66:1-7. doi:
10.1016/j.leukres.2017.12.009. Epub 2018 Jan 2.
Zhao H
1
,
Zhu H
2
,
Huang J
3
,
Zhu Y
2
,
Hong M
2
,
Zhu H
2
,
Zhang J
3
,
Li S
3
,
Yang L
3
,
Lian Y
3
,
Wang S
2
,
Mao J
3
,
Chen Y
2
,
Li J
2
,
Qian S
4
.
Decitabine is widely used in the
treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients.
Low-dose Vitamin C has also been indicated to induce DNA
demethylation at the cellular level. However, little is known whether
low-dose Vitamin C has a synergistic effect with decitabine in
clinic.
The effect of combined
low-dose Vitamin C and decitabine on cell proliferation, the cell
cycle, apoptosis and the expression level and activity of TET2 was investigated
in HL60 and NB4 human leukemic cells. Additionally, we analyzed the clinical
outcomes of 73 elderly AML patients who received A-DCAG
(intravenous Vitamin C [IVC] plus DCAG [n = 39]) or DCAG (n = 34)
treatment.
We found that low-dose Vitamin
C and decitabine has a synergistic efficacy on proliferation, apoptosis,
TET2 expression and activity, compared to drug-alone treatment in HL60 and NB4
cell lines in vitro. In clinic, feasibility and safety evaluations revealed
that patients who received A-DCAG regimen have a higher complete remission (CR)
rate than those who received the DCAG regimen (79.92% vs. 44.11%; P = 0.004)
after one cycle of chemotherapy. The median overall survival (OS) was better in
the A-DCAG group compared with the DCAG group (15.3 months vs. 9.3 months,
P = 0.039). Patients with adverse cytogenetics did benefit from CR. There was
no clinically significant additional toxicity observed with the addition of
IVC.
On the basis of these results
,
the addition of IVC at low doses to DCAG appeared to improve CR and prolong OS,
compared with DCAG, in elderly patients with AML.
Integr Cancer Ther.
2018
Sep;17(3):986-993. doi: 10.1177/1534735417747984. Epub 2017 Dec
19.
The Long-Term Survival of a Patient With Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma Following an Integrative Treatment Approach Including the Intravenous α-Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol.
Berkson BM
1,2
,
Calvo Riera F
3
.
Abstract
In this case report, we describe
the treatment of a 64-year-old male patient diagnosed with metastatic renal
cell carcinoma (RCC) in June of 2008. In spite of a left nephrectomy and the
standard oncological protocols, the patient developed a solitary left lung
metastasis that continued to grow. He was informed that given his diagnosis and
poor response to conventional therapy, any further treatment would, at best, be
palliative. The patient arrived at the Integrative Medical Center of New Mexico
in August of 2010. He was in very poor health, weak, and cachectic. An
integrative program-developed by one of the authors
using intravenous (IV) α-lipoic acid, IV vitamin C,
low-dose naltrexone, and hydroxycitrate, and a healthy life style
program-was initiated. From August 2010 to August 2015, the patient's RCC with
left lung metastasis was followed closely using computed tomography and
positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. His most recent
positron emission tomography scan demonstrated no residual increased glucose
uptake in his left lung. After only a few treatments of IV
α-lipoic acid and IV vitamin C, his symptoms began to improve,
and the patient regained his baseline weight. His energy and outlook improved,
and he returned to work. The patient had stable disease
with
disappearance of the signs and symptoms of stage IV RCC, a full 9 years
following diagnosis, with a gentle integrative program, which is essentially
free of side effects.
As of November 2017
the patient feels
well and is working at his full-time job.
Sci Rep.
2017 Dec 7;7(1):17188. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17568-8.
Polireddy K
1,2
,
Dong R
1,2
,
Reed G
1
,
Yu J
1,2
,
Chen P
1,2
,
Williamson S
3
,
Violet PC
4
,
Pessetto Z
5
,
Godwin AK
5
,
Fan F
5
,
Levine M
4
,
Drisko JA
6
,
Chen Q
7,8
.
Pancreatic cancer is
among the most lethal cancers with poorly tolerated treatments. There is
increasing interest in using high-dose intravenous ascorbate (IVC) in
treating this disease partially because of its low toxicity. IVC bypasses
bioavailability barriers of oral ingestion, provides pharmacological
concentrations in tissues, and exhibits selective cytotoxic effects
in cancer cells through peroxide formation. Here, we further revealed
its anti-pancreatic cancer mechanisms and conducted a phase I/IIa study
to investigate pharmacokinetic interaction between IVC and gemcitabine.
Pharmacological ascorbate induced cell death in
pancreatic cancer cells with diverse mutational backgrounds.
Pharmacological ascorbate depleted cellular NAD+ preferentially
in cancer cells versus normal cells, leading to depletion of ATP and
robustly increased α-tubulin acetylation in cancer cells. While ATP
depletion led to cell death, over-acetylated tubulin led to inhibition of
motility and mitosis. Collagen was increased, and
cancer cell
epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was inhibited,
accompanied
with inhibition in metastasis.
IVC was safe in patients and showed the
possibility to prolong patient survival. There was no interference to
gemcitabine pharmacokinetics by IVC administration. Taken together, these data
revealed a multi-targeting mechanism of pharmacological ascorbate's
anti-cancer action, with minimal toxicity, and provided guidance to design
larger definitive trials testing efficacy of IVC in treating advanced
pancreatic cancer.
Altern Ther Health Med.
2019
Mar;25(2):42-45.
Monti DA
,
Bazzan AJ
,
Zabrecky G
,
Newberg AB
.
Intravenous
ascorbic acid
(IVAA) has been used extensively as
part of the management plan for cancerpatients in various medical
clinics throughout the United States. The current research team has evaluated
its effectiveness in patients with cancer as part of an ongoing
research program. However, no data are available that support the chemical
stability of intravenously injectable ascorbic acid (AA) to ensure
its safety and efficacy in that patient population. Its clinical use as well as
its use in research conducted in US Food and Drug Administration-approved
clinical trials require validation of its stability.
The study intended to evaluate the
chemical stability of the compounded IVAA that it prepares.
The research team conducted a
stability analysis within a 6-h period, a period longer than the time required
for most infusions, which typically take approximately 2 h. The study evaluated
the stability of AA intravenous sets, which are compounded solutions
for clinical or hospital use. The IVAA was prepared in sterile water, together
with magnesium chloride (MgCl) and calcium gluconate (CaGluc) as buffers.
The study took place at the Marcus
Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia,
PA, USA).
The study was performed for 2
dosages of an infusion set: 75 g and 100 g of IVAA. Interval testing included
pH, particulate matter by light obscuration, and high-performance liquid
chromatography assay. Analyses were performed at baseline and at 2-, 4-, and
6-h test intervals.
The results demonstrated that IVAA
remained highly stable throughout the 6-h period. It also passed the US
Pharmacopeia's criteria for pH and particulates when used with a 0.2 µ filter.
These data suggest that
IVAA,
when prepared with sterile water, in addition
to MgCl and CaGluc, is highly stable and safe to use in patients
for up to 6 h after preparation.
Biochem Biophys Rep.
2017
Apr 22;10:232-236. doi:
10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.04.014. eCollection 2017 Jul.
2- O -α-D-Glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid as an antitumor agent for infusion therapy.
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AA) has been reported
as a treatment for cancer patients. Intravenous (iv)
administration
of high-dose AA increases plasma AA levels to pharmacologic concentrations and
generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to exert anti-tumor activity via
enhancement of oxidative stress
. However, AA is very unstable in aqueous
solutions and it is impossible to preserve AA for a long period in a solution.
2-
O
-α-D-Glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2G), which is a
glucoside derivative of AA, has been found to exhibit much higher stability
than AA in aqueous solutions and it shows vitamin C activity after
enzymatic hydrolysis to AA. To evaluate the effectiveness of AA-2G
for cancer treatment, we examined the antitumor activity of AA-2G to
murine colon carcinoma (colon-26) cells and in tumor-bearing mice. AA-2G did
not show cytotoxicity to colon-26 cells, whereas AA exhibited a significant
cytotoxic effect in a concentration-dependent manner. In colon-26 tumor-bearing
mice, iv administration of high-dose AA-2G as well as that of AA significantly
inhibited tumor growth. Experiments on the biodistribution and clearance of
AA-2G in tumor-bearing mice showed that AA-2G was rapidly hydrolyzed to AA and
exhibited significant antitumor activity. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with
AA-2G tended to increase plasma malondialdehyde level.
These results
indicated that the antitumor activity of AA-2G was caused by ROS generated by
AA released by rapid hydrolysis of AA-2G.
Exp Ther Med.
2016
Nov;12(5):3058-3062. Epub 2016 Sep 16.
In vitro and in vivo assessment of high-dose vitamin C against murine tumors.
Wang G
1
,
Yin T
1
,
Wang Y
1
.
Abstract
Vitamin C is widely used in
clinical settings and is well known for its safety. Previous studies have shown
the efficacy of intravenous vitamin C;
however, intratumoral delivery of vitamin C has yet to be
attempted. In the present study, the biological effects of
high-dose vitamin C on tumor cells were investigated
in vitro
by
using the MTT assay and flow cytometry. When administered
in vitro
,
high-dose vitamin
C inhibited the proliferation of murine colon and
breast cancer cells, and induced tumor cell apoptosis
.
Cytotoxicity
of vitamin C was partially reversed by N-acetyl-cysteine at a
relatively low dosage. In addition, synergistic anti-tumor effects
of vitamin C and cisplatin were observed.
In
vivo, intratumoral delivery of vitamin C delayed tumor
growth in murine solid tumor models. Considering its low toxicity and
availability, the present study indicates that vitamin C may be a
novel therapeutic method for patients with advanced tumors.
chemotherapy drug cisplatin
Pain Res Manag.
2016;2016:9147279. Epub 2016
Oct 30.
Effect of Intravenous High Dose Vitamin C on Postoperative Pain and Morphine Use after Laparoscopic Colectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Jeon Y
1
,
Park JS
2
,
Moon S
3
,
Yeo J
4
.
Abstract
Background and Objective
. Vitamin C has antioxidant, neuroprotective, and
neuromodulating effects. Recently, it showed antinociceptive effect as a result
of the antioxidant properties. Therefore, we designed this study to assess the
effect of intravenous vitamin C on opiate consumption and pain
in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy.
Methods
. A total of
100 patients were enrolled and allocated to receive 50 mg/kg vitamin
C or placebo by intravenousinfusion immediately after induction
of anesthesia. Morphine consumption and scores of painwere assessed at 2,
6, and 24 h after completion of surgery.
Results
. There were 97
patients included in the analysis. Patients who received vitamin
C had higher plasma concentrations of vitamin C at the end of
surgery, significantly lower morphine consumption at the 2 h after end of
surgery, and significantly lower pain scores at rest during first 24 h
postoperatively. There was no significant difference between groups in side
effects, fatigue score, or pain score during cough.
Conclusion
.
This study shows
high dose vitamin C infusion decreased
postoperative pain during the first 24 h and reduced morphine consumption in
the early postoperative period.
Additional research needed to examine
whether higher doses of vitamin C and longer infusion times can
amplify these effects.
Redox Biol.
2016 Dec;10:274-284. doi:
10.1016/j.redox.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Oct 28.
Tumor cells have decreased ability to metabolize H 2 O 2 : Implications for pharmacological ascorbate in cancer therapy.
Doskey CM
1
,
Buranasudja V
1
,
Wagner BA
2
,
Wilkes JG
3
,
Du J
3
,
Cullen JJ
4
,
Buettner GR
5
.
Abstract
Ascorbate (AscH
-
)
functions as a versatile reducing agent. At pharmacological doses (P-AscH
-
;
[plasma AscH
-
] ≥≈20mM), achievable
through intravenous delivery,
oxidation of P-AscH
-
can produce a high flux of H
2
O
2
in tumors.
Catalase is the major enzyme for
detoxifying high concentrations of H
2
O
2
. We hypothesize
that sensitivity of tumor cells to P-AscH
-
compared to normal cells is due to
their
lower capacity to metabolize H
2
O
2
. Rate
constants for removal of H
2
O
2
(k
cell
) and catalase
activities were determined for 15 tumor and 10 normal cell lines of various
tissue types. A differential in the capacity of cells to remove H
2
O
2
was revealed, with the
average k
cell
for
normal cells being twice that of tumor cells.
The ED
50
(50% clonogenicsurvival) of
P-AscH
-
correlated directly with k
cell
and catalase
activity.
Catalase activity could present a promising indicator of
which tumors may respond to P-AscH
-
.
Am J Case Rep.
2016 Oct 24;17:774-781.
High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Treatment of a Child with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Optic Pathway Glioma: A Case Report.
Mikirova N
1
,
Hunnunghake R
2
,
Scimeca RC
1
,
Chinshaw C
3
,
Ali F
3
,
Brannon C
2
,
Riordan N
4
.
Abstract
BACKGROUND In neurofibromatosis type
1 (NF1) disease, the loss of the tumor suppressor function of the neurofibromin
gene leads to proliferation of neural tumors. In children, the most frequently
identified tumor is the optic pathway glioma. CASE REPORT We describe the case
of a 5-year-old child who was diagnosed with NF1 and optic pathway tumor onset
at the age of 14 months. Because of the tumor progression, chemotherapy with
carboplatin and vincristine was prescribed at this early age and continued for
one year. As the progression of disease continued after chemotherapy, the
child, at the age of 2.8 years, was started on
high-dose intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment (7-15 grams per
week) for 30 months.
After 30 months, the results of IVC treatments
demonstrated reduction and stabilization of the tumors in the optic chiasm,
hypothalamus, and left optic nerve according to radiographic imaging. The
right-sided optic nerve mass seen before IVC treatment disappeared by the end
of the treatment
. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights
the positive effects
of treating NF1 glioma with IVC
. Additional studies are necessary to
evaluate the role of high-dose IVC in glioma treatment.
Free Radic Biol Med.
2016 Oct;99:451-462. doi:
10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.08.027. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
Pharmacokinetic and anti-cancer properties of high dose ascorbate in solid tumours of ascorbate-dependent mice.
Campbell EJ
1
,
Vissers MCM
2
,
Wohlrab C
1
,
Hicks KO
3
,
Strother RM
4
,
Bozonet SM
2
,
Robinson BA
5
,
Dachs GU
6
.
Abstract
Despite recent evidence for an
anti-tumour role for high-dose ascorbate, potential mechanisms of action
are still unclear. At mM concentrations that are achieved with
high-dose intravenous administration, autoxidation of ascorbate can
generate cytotoxic levels of H
2
O
2
. Ascorbate is also a
required co-factor for the hydroxylases that suppress the transcription factor
hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1). HIF-1 supports an
aggressive tumour phenotype and is associated with poor prognosis,
and previous studies have shown that optimizing intracellular ascorbate levels
down-regulates HIF-1 activation. In this study we have simultaneously measured
ascorbate concentrations and the HIF-1 pathway activity
in tumour tissue following high dose ascorbate administration,
and have studied tumour growth and physiology. Gulo
-/-
mice, a model of the human
ascorbate dependency condition, were implanted with syngeneic Lewis
lung tumours, 1g/kg ascorbate was administered into the peritoneum, and
ascorbate concentrations were monitored in plasma, liver and tumours.
Ascorbate levels peaked within 30min, and although plasma and liver ascorbate
returned to baseline within 16h, tumour levels remained elevated for
48h, possibly reflecting increased stability in the hypoxic tumour environment.
The expression of HIF-1 and its target proteins was down-regulated
with tumour ascorbate uptake. Elevated tumour ascorbate
levels could be maintained with daily administration, and HIF-1 and vascular
endothelial growth factor protein levels were reduced in these
conditions.
Increased tumour ascorbate was associated with
slowed tumour growth,
reduced tumour microvessel density and decreased hypoxia.
Alternate
day administration of ascorbate resulted in lower tumour levels and
did not consistently decrease HIF-1 pathway activity. Levels of
sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters 1 and 2 were not clearly
associated with ascorbate accumulation by murine tumour cells in
vitro or in vivo. Our
results support the suppression of the hypoxic
response by ascorbate as a plausible mechanism of action of its
anti-tumour activity,
and this may be useful in a clinical
setting.
Med Sci Monit.
2016 Jan 3;22:14-25.
Mikirova N
1
,
Riordan N
2
,
Casciari J
3
.
Cytokines play an important role in
tumor angiogenesis and inflammation. There is evidence in the literature that
high doses of ascorbate can reduce inflammatory cytokine levels
in cancer patients. The objective of this study was to investigate
the effect of treatment by intravenous vitamin C (IVC) on
cytokines and tumor markers.
With the availability of protein
array kits allowing assessment of many cytokines in a single sample, we
measured 174 cytokines and additional 54 proteins and tumor markers in
12 cancer patients before and after a series of IVC treatments.
Presented results show
for
our 12 patients the effect of treatment resulted in normalization of many
cytokine levels.
Cytokines that were most consistently elevated prior
to treatments included M-CSF-R, Leptin, EGF, FGF-6, TNF-α, β, TARC, MCP-1,4,
MIP, IL-4, 10, IL-4, and TGF-β. Cytokine levels tended to decrease during the
course of treatment. These include mitogens (EGF, Fit-3 ligand, HGF, IGF-1,
IL-21R) and chemo-attractants (CTAC, Eotaxin, E-selectin, Lymphotactin,
MIP-1, MCP-1, TARC, SDF-1), as well as inflammation and angiogenesis factors
(FGF-6, IL-1β, TGF-1).
We are able to show
that av.erage z-scores for several inflammatory and angiogenesis
promoting cytokines are positive, indicating that they are higher than averages
for healthy controls, and that
their levels decreased over the course
of treatment.
In addition,
serum concentrations of tumor
markers decreased during the time period of IVC treatment and there were
reductions in cMyc and Ras, 2 proteins implicated in being
upregulated in cancer.
Integr
Cancer
Ther.
2016 Jun;15(2):197-204. doi:
10.1177/1534735415622010. Epub 2015 Dec 17.
Raymond YC
1
,
Glenda CS
2
,
Meng LK
3
.
Introduction Intravenous high-dose vitamin
C therapy is widely used in naturopathic and integrative oncology;
however, a study reviewing its effects has never been performed in Singapore.
This article serves to document administration of supportive vitamin
C therapy for cancer patients in Singapore.
The clinical response of
9 cancer patients of differing stages to the regular administration
of large doses (25-100 g/d) of intravenous vitamin
C (IVC; ascorbic acid) is outlined. Tumor pathology and patient
health were verified by doctors who do not practice vitamin
C treatment.
Cases suggesting survival
beyond prognosis, improvement in quality of life, safe coadministration with
and improved tolerance of conventional therapy, and deterioration in clinical
condition following withdrawal of vitamin C therapy are documented
clinically
. Some patients experience
the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction-the release of endotoxin from
microorganism death resulting in pimples, fever, and body odor-for a few hours
after the therapy, but these are resolved quickly with no lasting effects.
Randomized trials of IVC therapy
are recommended because it
has minimal side effects and has shown
promising results.
Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C,
Infectious Diseases, and Toxins, 3rd Edition Paperback – August 1,
2011; by
MD JD Thomas E Levy
He quickly found the medical journals were filled with thousands
of studies and articles about vitamin C. Many of them reported similarly
dramatic results with a myriad of diseases and other difficult medical
conditions. Dr. Levy knew that this was information that all his colleagues
needed. Consequently, he was compelled to spend the next four years researching
and writing
Curing the Incurable
. vy has taken great care
to research, document, and report the vital truths about vitamin C — he cites
over 1,200 scientific references.
Curing the Incurable
provides the information
you need to most effectively use vitamin C to:
·
Prevent, cure, reverse and/or greatly improve a large list of
health conditions.
·
Cut your mortality risk (from all causes) by as much as 50%.
·
Boost your immune system and energy levels to optimum levels.
Optimize blood and intracellular levels of vitamin C, &
Dramatically increase bio-availability (up to 800% or more) without increasing
your dose size.
Vitamin C: The Real Story, the
Remarkable and Controversial Healing Factor Paperback – October 23,
2015; by
Steve Hickey
PhD,
Andrew W. Saul
PhD
You will see
that mega doses of vitamin C have proven to be an effective antibiotic, a
nontoxic anticancer agent, and also a treatment for heart disease.
Hidden Epidemic: Silent Oral
Infections Cause Most Heart Attacks and Breast Cancers
, was published in September of 2017.
Stop America's #1 Killer 2nd
ed. Edition by
MD JD Levy
(Author),
MD Julian Whitaker
(Foreword). ( Most heart disease is
a reversable arterial scurvy)
by
Robert Kulacz
(Author),
MD JD Levy
(Author); foreword by Boyd Haley Phd
What You Need to
Know Before Undergoing a Root Canal Undergoing a root canal procedure isn't
anyone's idea of a good time, but if one is necessary, we don't question its
safety. According to Robert Kulacz, DDS and Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD, we
should. Here, they reveal the hidden dangers of root canals. Nobody looks
forward to having a root canal. But if you're in constant discomfort because of
an infected tooth, you'll willingly hop into the dentist's chair and open wide.
Sure, you might worry about feeling pain during the procedure (or paying for it
afterward), but beyond those concerns, there's really no reason to worry about
undergoing this common outpatient procedure, right? Wrong. Robert Kulacz,
DDS and Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD, say that a root canal is actually a
scientifically flawed and potentially dangerous procedure. "Instead of
solving a problem, root canals introduce a steady stream of dangerous-and even
deadly-toxins into your body," says Dr. Levy, co-author along with
Dr. Kulacz of The Toxic Tooth: How a root canal could be making you
sick. "Root canal-treated teeth are not sterile and contain pathogenic
bacteria, which spread throughout the body and can initiate or worsen heart
disease, lung disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even cancer."