Vitamin C Shots Kill Ovarian Cancer Cells, Reduce Toxic Effects Of Chemotherapy

A therapy that combines vitamin C injections with conventional chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) stopped ovarian cancer in Petri dish cells, animals and humans, U.S. researchers report. In addition, the therapy reduced chemotherapy- associated toxicity in patients. The researchers said intravenous, but not oral, vitamin C kills some cancer cells without harming normal tissues. The clinical trial involved 27 patients with newly diagnosed stage 3 or stage 4 ovarian cancer. All received conventional chemotherapy, and some received high-dose intravenous vitamin C. Patients were monitored for five years. Patients who received vitamin C experienced reduced cancer as well as fewer toxic effects from chemotherapy drugs.