BACKGROUND: An inflammatory component is present in the microenvironment of most 
neoplastic tissues. Inflammation and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are 
associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival in many types of 
cancer.Vitamin C has been suggested as having both a preventative and 
therapeutic role in a number of pathologies when administered at much 
higher-than-recommended dietary allowance levels.Since in vitro studies 
demonstrated inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways by millimolar 
concentrations of vitamin C, we decided to analyze the effects of high dose IVC 
therapy in suppression of inflammation in cancer patients.
METHODS: 45 patients with prostate cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, 
pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, skin cancer and B-cell lymphoma 
were treated at the Riordan Clinic by high doses of vitamin C (7.5 g -50 g) 
after standard treatments by conventional methods.CRP and tumor markers were 
measured in serum or heparin-plasma as a routine analysis. In addition, serum 
samples were collected before and after the IVCs for the cytokine kit tests.
RESULTS: According to our data positive response to treatment, which was 
demonstrated by measurements of C- reactive protein, was found in 75% of 
patients and progression of the inflammation in 25% of patients. IVC treatments 
on all aggressive stage cancer patients showed the poor response of 
treatment.There was correlation between tumor markers (PSA, CEA, CA27.29 and 
CA15-3) and changes in the levels of C-reactive protein.Our test of the effect 
of IVC on pro-inflammatory cytokines demonstrated that inflammation cytokines 
IL-1α, IL-2, IL-8, TNF-α, chemokine eotaxin and CRP were reduced significantly 
after treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: The high dose intravenous ascorbic acid therapy affects C-reactive 
protein levels and pro-inflammation cytokines in cancer patients. In our study, 
we found that modulation of inflammation by IVC correlated with decreases in 
tumor marker levels.In summary, our data support the hypothesis that high dose 
intravenous ascorbate treatments may reduce inflammation in cancer patients. Our 
results suggest that further investigations into the use of IVC to reduce 
inflammation in diseases where inflammation is relevant are warranted.