“C” to Believe: Jefferson Scientists Studying the Effects of High Dose Vitamin C on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
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.
Media Only Contact:
Richard Cushman
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 1/2/2008