A recent clinical trial in the United States revealed promising results for pancreatic cancer patients. By adding high-dose vitamin C administered intravenously to standard chemotherapy treatment, researchers observed a doubling of patients’ average survival time. This discovery, published in the journal Redox Biologycould transform the way certain cancers are treated.
An impressive jump in survival rates
Pancreatic cancer is infamous for its late diagnosis and poor prognosis. With chemotherapy alone, stage 4 patients survive an average of eight months. However, in this study, patients who received high-dose vitamin C saw their life expectancy increase to 16 months.
“When we started this trial, we hoped to achieve an average survival of 12 months. Doubling that number was an incredible surprise,” said Dr. Joe Cullen, a professor at the University of Iowa and lead author of the study. “The results were so convincing that we were able to stop the trial earlier than planned. »
Fewer side effects and better tolerance
In addition to increased survival, patients treated with vitamin C also experienced improved quality of life. Side effects often associated with chemotherapy, such as fatigue, nausea and drops in immunity, were less common.
In particular, patients on vitamin C had more stable white blood cell and platelet counts, reducing the risk of infections and bleeding. This better tolerance to treatment allowed these patients to follow a greater number of chemotherapy cycles without interruption.
Why is vitamin C effective?
The secret lies in intravenous administration, which achieves much higher blood concentrations of vitamin C than orally. These high levels generate hydrogen peroxide in the blood, a substance that is toxic to cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
“Cancer cells, due to their poor ability to eliminate hydrogen peroxide, are much more vulnerable to this substance “, explains Professor Garry Buettner, specialist in oncology at the University of Iowa. This specificity allows vitamin C to attack tumors without damaging healthy tissue.
Potential beyond pancreatic cancer
This success is not isolated. In January 2024, another study showed that vitamin C administered intravenously increased the survival of patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Patients treated with this combination of vitamin C, chemotherapy and radiotherapy survived on average almost five months longer than those who followed standard treatment.
A third clinical trial focusing on non-small cell lung cancer is currently underway, with results expected by the end of 2024.
This advance paves the way for expanded use of vitamin C in oncological treatments. Inexpensive, well tolerated and easily accessible, high-dose vitamin C could become a valuable complement to existing treatments.
“Our goal is to prove that the addition of intravenous vitamin C can significantly improve the treatment of some of the deadliest cancers,” concluded Dr. Cullen.
With such promising results, this discovery gives hope to thousands of patients and their loved ones. As research continues, the integration of high-dose vitamin C may well redefine the future of cancer treatments, particularly for conditions as daunting as pancreatic cancer.
Illustration : DR
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