News and Views
First Cohort of Patients Completes Clinical Trial of Intravenous Vitamin C for Cancer Treatment
The first cohort of patients has completed the intravenous vitamin C trial at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, said Christopher G. Lis, vice president of research and development at CTCA.
The study started in the late fall, and, thus far, three patients have completed the treatment regime of infusions of high doses of vitamin C four times a day for four weeks, said Lis. Researchers are seeking a total of 18 patients for the trial, which has received approval as an investigational new drug trial, non-commercial from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study is being conducted at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois.
Taking the work of Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling to the next level, researchers are eyeing the impact of high doses of intravenous, or in the vein, Vitamin C on cancer. The study is being led by Dr. Christopher M. Stephenson, an internal medicine specialist at Midwestern Regional Medical Center; Dr. Robert D. Levin, Chief of Medical Oncology at Midwestern Regional Medical Center; and, Mr. Christopher G. Lis, MPH, Vice President, Research and Development, CTCA.
"This study supports our commitment to patient empowerment," said Lis. "This study will provide patients with hope and the medical community with new knowledge on the potential role of intravenous vitamin C in cancer care."
CTCA is undertaking the research in order to provide hope to cancer patients who have no other, remaining treatment options.
Researchers continue to look for female, and male, patients who have been told by their doctors that:
- They have an advanced stage, solid tumor
- They have no other treatment options which provide a clinical benefit
- They have a life expectancy of at least three months
- They have no other, scheduled cancer therapy.
- Patients must also be non-smokers, of at least 18 years of age, to be eligible for the non-commercial, research trial.
Dr. Stephenson said that one of the major goals of the research study is to identify the optimal therapeutic dose for future efficacy studies. He notes that the first group of patients received roughly 50 grams of intravenous IV at a rate of 1 gram per minute.
If you or a loved one would like to participate in this trial, please contact Christopher G. Lis at christopher.lis@ctca-hope.com.