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Scientists
studying the effects of high dose Vitamin C
on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma patients
Newswise — Scientists at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital and Jefferson’s Kimmel
Cancer Center have received approval for a
first-of-its kind study on the effect high
dose vitamin C has on non-Hodgkin lymphoma
patients.
Researchers from the Jefferson-Myrna Brind
Center of Integrative Medicine and Kimmel
Cancer Center in conjunction with the
National Institutes of Health will study
whether high doses of vitamin C can slow the
progression of the deadly disease.
“This is a very unique study for a set of
patients who have really run out of
options,” said Daniel Monti, M.D., director
of the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative
Medicine, and primary investigator of the
study.
“Vitamin C administered intravenously has
shown great promise in the laboratory and
there has been some anecdotal data in cancer
patients, but no one has really ever run a
detailed study on humans. Vitamin C doesn’t
cost much and is very low in toxicity,
making it a particularly desirable agent for
further study.”
Recent research conducted by the NIH
collaborators of this study has shown that
when given in sufficient amounts
intravenously, vitamin C converts to
hydrogen peroxide.
When applied to certain non-Hodgkin lymphoma
cells in the laboratory, the converted
hydrogen peroxide kills them while leaving
the surrounding healthy cells intact.
“Previous human studies have been flawed
because the vitamin C was given orally
versus intravenously,” said Monti.
“The problem with that is the oral route
tightly limits the amount of vitamin C that
can get into the bloodstream. When vitamin C
is given intravenously you can get up to 70
times more of the vitamin into the blood
versus the same dose given orally.
"It
is these high blood levels that are required
to get the mechanism of action, vitamin C
converting to hydrogen peroxide around the
cancer cells, to occur.
"Although
other cancers could be a contender for this
intervention, the preliminary data on
non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells is why we decided
to start with this disease.”
The study will begin with 20 non-Hodgkin
lymphoma patients who have failed standard
therapy. Each study participant will be
given varied intravenous doses of vitamin C
three times a week.
The patients will be evaluated and monitored
for progression of their disease. The
study’s goals are to show diminished
progression of the disease in participating
patients.
“As leaders in the field of integrative
medicine, Jefferson is always seeking new
and innovative therapies for our patients,”
concluded Monti.
“We want to look in every corner for
solutions. This study is a unique
collaboration of several clinical and
research specialists. If this study yields
positive data we will do further studies to
expand the availability of this intriguing
therapy.”
The Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of
Integrative Medicine (Brind Center) is at
the nation’s forefront of integrative care
and research.
It is one of the few hospital-based
integrative medical centers in the country,
and its staff are recognized leaders in the
field.
The Brind Center’s mission is to bring
together the best of conventional medicine
with promising complementary therapies, with
the goal of facilitating health and healing
in all dimensions: body, mind, spirit, and
community.
The Brind Center works closely with the
Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center to provide
innovative quality of life programs for
cancer patients.
The Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center (KCC) is
one of a select group of National Cancer
Institute-designated Clinical Cancer Centers
in the nation.
The KCC conducts more than 100 clinical
trials each year aimed at the prevention and
treatment of cancer, while its basic
scientists work to gain a better
understanding of the development and
behavior of the disease.
It is the cornerstone of the Jefferson
Cancer Network (JCN), a consortium of more
than 20 institutions dedicated to improving
cancer care and clinical research.