Multi-disciplinary collaboration proposes intravenous vitamin C for treatment of cancer

Mar 25 2011

Collaboration between Conventional Oncologists and Alternative Medical Practitioners Results in New Direction for Old Methodology

The Riordan Clinic announced today publication in the Journal of Translational Medicine results of a collaboration between oncologists, alternative medicine practitioners, and basic researchers, which proposes a new use of intravenous vitamin C for treatment of cancer.  

The paper, available freely online at http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-9-25.pdf, describes the possibility of using intravenous vitamin C to treat inflammation associated with cancer.  The rationale is provided that intravenous, but not oral, vitamin C may be capable of addressing issues in cancer patients such as wasting (cachexia), immune suppression, and improving quality of life. Citing 246 references, the paper synthesized existing knowledge regarding the use of intravenous vitamin C for numerous medical conditions and seeks re-evaluation of the place of intravenous vitamin C in the context of conventional oncology practice.

"Currently there is a great divide in the way intravenous vitamin C is viewed," said Thomas Ichim, Board Member of the Riordan Clinic and first author of the publication. "On the one hand, you have alternative medicine practitioners, who have been claiming very interesting results in practical treatment of cancer patients, but cannot explain any molecular rationale for its use or potential effects.  On the other hand you have a great amount of scientific literature supporting possible relevance of this approach in cancer.  This paper is a significant step towards closing the divide."

In the past, the use of vitamin C in the treatment of cancer has been considered controversial since some studies have claimed excellent results in extending lifespan of cancer patients, whereas other studies have not seen any effects.  The discrepancy seems to be explained by studies seeing positive effects utilizing intravenous vitamin C, whereas the failed studies used oral vitamin C.  Scientists at the Riordan Clinic were the first to publish, and patent, that intravenous, but not oral vitamin C, can achieve significant concentration in the blood in order to selectively kill tumor cells.

"We are proud to have had such a multi-disciplinary collaboration as part of this team including scientists/doctors from University of Western Ontario, Canada, the Torrey Pines Research Institute, the University of Puerto Rico, University of Connecticut, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Latvia, the Lawson Health Research Institute, and Loma Linda University," stated Brian Riordan, CEO of the Riordan Clinic.  "The Riordan Clinic (www.riordanclinic.org) has been using intravenous vitamin C for decades; my personal mission is to seek input from colleagues in conventional oncology in order to figure out how we can collectively generate best treatment methods for our patients.  This paper is a small step in what we anticipate will be many successful collaborations with our friends in conventional oncology practice." Funding for the publication was provided by Allan P. Markin's Pure North S'Energy Foundation.