Our goals were to address the following, ... Does ascorbate in pharmacologic concentrations kill cancer cells, but not normal cells, using conditions that mimic IV use and a clinically relevant time course? Is action dependent on extracellular ascorbate, intracellular ascorbate, or both? If effective, what are the mechanisms? Can ascorbate be delivered to tissues without harm? Are there implications for other diseases?
- Mark LevineAscorbic acid (vitamin C, ascorbate) has a controversial history in cancer treatment, ... Observational reports described ascorbate, given in pharmacologic doses of 10 g daily, as effective in treating some cancers and in improving patient well-being. Subsequently, the same dose had no effect on patient well-being and survival in two double-blind placebo-controlled trials, and ascorbate was discarded as a treatment modality.
- Mark LevineComplementary and alternative medicine practitioners worldwide currently use ascorbate IV in doses as high as 70 g over several hours, ... Because IV ascorbate is easily available to people who seek it, a phase I safety trial in patients with advanced cancer is justified and underway.
- Mark Levine