Intravenous Vitamin C is Selectively Toxic to Tumor Cells

Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Wichita, KS -- Bio-Communications Research Institute’s (BCRI’s) pioneering work on vitamin C and cancer has been recently validated by the National Institutes of Health. BCRI researchers first reported in 1995 that vitamin C in sufficient amounts is selectively toxic to tumor cells. The authors concluded that tumor-toxic levels of vitamin C could be achieved only by giving the vitamin intravenously. Subsequent research from BCRI, published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2001, was the first to describe in detail the pharmacokinetics of high doses of intravenous vitamin C.

A recent study by scientists at NIH confirmed the concepts that vitamin C is selectively toxic to cancer cells and that tumor-toxic levels of vitamin C can be attained using intravenous administration. The article, published in the September 12, 2005 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded, “These findings give plausibility to i.v. ascorbic acid in cancer treatment…”

“It is gratifying to have our research on vitamin C and cancer confirmed by scientists at the prestigious National Institutes of Health,” said Neil Riordan, Ph.D., BCRI’s Research Director. “The findings reinforce our goal and commitment to pursue cutting edge cancer research,” added BCRI scientist and consultant, Michael Gonzalez, Ph.D., D.Sc. of the University of Puerto Rico.

Researchers with BCRI have been recognized internationally as leaders in the study of vitamin C and cancer for more than 15 years, publishing 20 scientific articles on the subject. BCRI funded the first clinical phase I trial of intravenous vitamin C in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies. Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in the coming months.

BCRI’s vitamin C research was headed by its founder Hugh D. Riordan, M.D. The research team includes Dr. Xiaolong Meng, Dr. Joseph Casciari, Dr. Nina Mikirova, Dr. Jie Zhong, Dr. James A. Jackson, Dr. Don Davis, Dr. Jorge Miranda, Dr. Michael Gonzalez, Dr. Neil Riordan, and Mr. Paul Taylor.

BCRI is a division of The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning, International (CIHFI) --- CIHFI, a 501 (c) 3 foundation, was founded 30 years ago by Hugh D. Riordan, M.D. The foundation is comprised of four major divisions: the Olive W. Garvey Center for Healing Arts, the Bio-Center Laboratory, the Bio-Communications Research Institute, and the Bio-Medical Synergistics Education Institute. The medical doctors at CIHFI have seen patients from all 50 states and from 47 foreign countries.