Scurvy to stage IV cancer: the efficacy of intravenous vitamin C therapy in combination with cisplatin and paclitaxel treatment on non-small cell lung cancer strain A549

Abstract

Vitamin C has been recognized to be beneficial to many areas of human health, but the extent of its uses have yet to be fully explored, specifically in cancer research. Professional opinions on the effectiveness of vitamin C therapy for cancer patients vary across the board. The goal of this study is to work toward a deeper understanding of the effects of vitamin C therapy on the non-small cell lung cancer strain A549. Initially, nine different vitamin C concentrations ranging from 5 µg/mL to 960 µg/mL were tested. Vitamin C was then tested with two standardized drug treatments, cisplatin and paclitaxel, at concentrations ranging from 5 µM to 100 µM. Results indicate that vitamin C, whether combined with an additional treatment or not, actually increased lung cancer cell viability and proliferation. This study will ultimately assist in determining vitamin C’s role in treatment plans for lung cancer patients.