New research has suggested that a high dose of vitamin C could potentially boost the cancer killing effect provided by chemotherapy. Scientists in the United States believe that if it is given to patients by injection it could potentially be a safe, effective and low-cost treatment for ovarian and other cancers and there has been calls for large-scale government clinical trials.

The scientists who are based at the University of Kansas believe that when given by injection vitamin C is absorbed into the body, and can kill cancer cells without causing any harm or damage to normal cells. During their research which was carried out in the university researchers injected vitamin C into human ovarian cancer cells in the lab, into mice, and into patients with advanced ovarian cancer. What they concluded from their testing was that the ovarian cancer cells were sensitive to vitamin C treatment, but normal cells remained unharmed.

The treatment worked together with standard chemotherapy drugs to slow tumour growth in mouse studies. They also said that a small group of patients reported fewer side-effects when given vitamin C alongside chemotherapy. One of the researchers Dr Jeanne Drisko believes that the interest in this type of treatment is on the rise but there are potential hurdles to navigate before the treatment became main stream.

She said “Patients are looking for safe and low-cost choices in their management of cancer. Intravenous vitamin C has that potential based on our basic science research and early clinical data.” Dr Drisko went on to say “We believe that the time has arrived for research agencies to vigorously support thoughtful and meticulous clinical trials with intravenous vitamin C.”