Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2003 by Reagan Houston

Abstract

Recent literature explains why vitamin C has been both successful and unsuccessful at extending the life of cancer patients. Vitamin C at 10,000 mg/day was effective in the form of sodium ascorbate but not as dry ascorbic acid. The ascorbate solution oxidizes to dehydroascorbate that readily and preferably enters cancer cells and kills them.

However, Abram Hoffer achieved excellent results with ascorbic acid. Hoffer found dry ascorbic acid with other vitamins effective at 12,000 mg/day when used with regular therapies of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Hoffer primarily used vitamins A, B, C and E plus zinc and selenium. The combination effectively combats the 7 traits of cancer. These traits include defective DNA, improper proteins produced by the DNA, improper signaling within and outside the cell, angiogenesis and ability to metastasize and to hide from the immune system. Vitamins make oncologic therapies less painful, less debilitating and more effective. In the last 50 years, Hoffer has treated 1,000 patients with over 20 types of cancer. In an early test his patients lived a median of 2 months with regular therapies or 28 months if vitamins were added to the cancer therapies.

Hoffer's vitamins should be tested as a group. Vitamins are safe, cheap, presently-available and have only minimal and temporary side effects. Current cancer patients can consider using Hoffer's regimen under medical supervision.
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Background

Are age-old natural compounds currently applicable as cancer therapy? John Boik's recent (1) and earlier (2) books on cancer therapy provide an excellent background. He described dozens of natural compounds and how they relate to many types of cancer. Cancers have several traits or characteristics that are similar regardless of the type of cancer. These traits are listed in Table 1 with some natural compounds that are or probably are therapeutic.

Boik believed "My central thesis is that the most successful cancer therapies will be those that target all of these primary events involved in cancer cell survival." Such a test has been run by Hoffer.

Vitamin C

Controversy hinders the use of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate are two common forms of vitamin C. They react differently toward cancer. Cameron (3) treated 500 hospitalized, terminal cancer patients who had failed surgery and radiation. Most obtained major pain relief in 2 weeks or less. His vitamin patients lived considerably longer than the controls.

Cameron's therapy was vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate solution. He gave vitamin C at 10,000 mg/day. Most patients initially received the solution by IV for a week or two. Then the solution was given orally. Patients who could go home were given a one-month supply. He made the solution by dissolving ascorbic acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in water or juice (Table 2).

Cameron describes a hospitalized truck driver with a malignant form of lymphatic cancer. After 4 weeks of vitamin C at 10,000 mg/day, he was back driving his tractor-trailer. A few months later, the vitamin C was gradually reduced to zero and his cancer returned. In the hospital he received higher doses and in three months was "perfectly fit and well with no evidence of active disease." He continued to be healthy for the next five years. Vitamin C appeared to put cancer into remission rather than cure it.

In confirming tests in Japan, Morishige (4) reported on 124 patients. Those who took over 5,000 mg/day (range 5,000-60,000) lived an average of 233 days versus 45 days for those with less vitamin C. As reported by Stone, (5) vitamin C was studied for cancer therapy in 1936. He used up to 42,000 mg/day "in a case of myelogenous leukemia, giving complete remission."

The major side effect of vitamin C is diarrhea if the dose is too large or increased too rapidly. Nausea, gas, upset stomach and skin itch can also be temporary problems.

Tsao (6) reported that sodium ascorbate solution readily oxidizes in air to form dehydroascorbate (DHK), and other compounds. The DHK molecule is similar to glucose. Cancer cells avidly take in glucose and, being defective, also take in excessive amounts of DHK. (7) DHK is an oxidizer and can kill cancer. Cameron's tests in humans tend to confirm the small-scale tests of Tsao and Agus. Normal cells can control the intake of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is not always helpful. Creagan (8) at Mayo clinic ran a double blind test of vitamin C at 10,000 mgf day. He gave the vitamin as ascorbic acid and found the vitamin did not help extend life. Cameron and Pauling objected to Creagan's use of patients with prior chemotherapy. Pauling apparently did not object to the form of vitamin C. In a repeat test using patients without prior chemotherapy, Moertel (9) found that ascorbic acid did not delay the time to progression of colorectal cancer.

Vitamin C as ascorbic acid was not therapeutic. Vitamin C as oxidized sodium ascorbate at 10,000 mg/day was therapeutic to humans with cancer.

Multiple Vitamins

Boik advocated multiple compounds rather than single compounds as cancer therapy. Hoffer (10) ran such a test beginning in 1977. He gave selenium, zinc, and large amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E to his cancer patients. His primary vitamin was vitamin C at 12,000 mg/day or more. In an early test group of 134 patients, the 33 patients who refused vitamins lived a mean of 2.1 months. However, the 101 patients who chose vitamins lived a mean of 28 months. At the end of the 10-year test, 48 of the vitamin patients were still alive but only two of the non-vitamin patients. The vitamin patients also had less pain from their cancer and no significant side effects from the vitamins. Hoffer asked all of his patients to continue working with their regular oncologists regarding surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Hoffer describes a woman who had a pancreatic tumor two inches long. After surgery to remove part of the cancer, Hoffer gave her vitamin C to the point where she almost had diarrhea. This is called the bowel tolerance level. She tried 40,000 mg of vitamin C, but settled on 35,000 mg daily. He added other vitamins and supplements. She followed the program for 5 years before decreasing the vitamins. Eighteen years later she was still well. Hoffer's therapy is especially noteworthy because there is no known effective conventional therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Discussion

Is there some theory to explain vitamins as therapy? John Boik' lists seven traits that distinguish cancer. Ideally, a cancer therapy should be effective against each of these seven traits.

All of the compounds used by Hoffer are in Boik's two books. Hoffer's regimen is summarized in Table 3. (11)

The regimen is balanced because it fights cancer formation and growth at all stages. The weakening caused by radiation and chemotherapy is balanced by the strengthening from the vitamins. The regimen combats many, perhaps all, types of cancer. Boik's small-scale lab tests and theory are balanced by many years of demonstrated success in humans. The regimen has a balance of minimal risk against good but not excellent test work. Tests of the type desired by Boik have already been done. Even suitable dosages have been determined. Hoffer did not give exact doses because people are different, cancers are different, and dosages can change over time. Apparently vitamins and minerals combat cancer by strengthening the immune system.

Hoffer recommended that cancer patients start vitamins as soon as diagnosed and that those without cancer take one half to one fourth of the amounts listed.

Did Hoffer use the best natural compounds? Boik suggests several better compounds. Boik repeatedly objected to vitamin C in large amounts. The vitamin has increased the mutation rate to help the cancer survive longer in animal tests. However, Cameron and Morishige demonstrated that 5,000 mg/ day or more is therapeutic in humans. The overpowering advantage of Hoffer's regimen is 23 years of successful tests. Although difficult to do, other compounds or combinations should be tested against Hoffer's results.

Safety

Many doctors object to their patients taking 12,000 mg/day of vitamin C.Are there test results? Cameron (13) gave 30,000 mg/day of sodium ascorbate to some of his long-term patients. Sodium overload was a problem but not excess ascorbate. Cathcart (14) has given 200,000 mg/day of sodium ascorbate by shortterm IV.

Vitamins with Radiation and Chemotherapy

Summary

The single, non-randomized clinical test by Hoffer is not scientific proof. For current cancer patients, the question is not proof but "Can I use it? Is it safe? Will it hurt regular treatments? Might it help?" Hoffer's regimen includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Hospitals and HMQ's might investigate the possible savings by vitamin augmentation. The vitamins are exceedingly safe compared to standard cancer therapies. The probability of a more comfortable and longer life is high. Side effects and costs with vitamins are low. Vitamin C in the form of oxidized sodium ascorbate is economical and useful but less effective than the Hoffer regimen.

Conclusion

Current cancer patients can consider using sodium ascorbate solution or Hoffer's regimen under medical supervision.

Table 1

Cancer Cell Characteristics and Therapeutic Compounds

1. Gene expression, mutation and proliferation: Vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium
2. Cell growth and death, cell signaling and growth factors: Vitamins A, C, D, E, selenium and calcium
3. DNA division and redox signaling: Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and selenium
4. Cell to cell communication: Vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium
5. Blood vessel growth, angiogenesis: Vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium
6. Invasion and spread: Vitamins A, B12, C, D, E and selenium
7. Evasion from the immune system: Vitamins A, E, selenium and zinc

Table 2

Sodium Ascorbate Solution

Sorbitol syrup (200 ml of 70%) can be substituted for some of the water.
Take 15 ml four times a day with meals to give 10,000 mg/day of
ascorbate. When refrigerated, the shelf life is about four weeks.
Continue taking the mixture indefinitely.

Table 3

Hoffer's Regimen

The vitamin E should preferably be the natural succinate type. Vitamin D
at 200 IU to 400 IU can be included based on Boik's work, the
government's recommended daily allowance (RDA) and the work of
Lieberman. (12) Hoffer sometimes included calcium and magnesium.

References

(1.) Boik J: Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy. Princeton, MN. Oregon Medical Press. 2001.

(2.) Boik J: Cancer and Natural Medicine. Princeton, MN. Oregon Medical Press. 1996.

(3.) Cameron E and Pauling L: Cancer and Vitamin C. Philadelphia. Camino Books. 1998.

(4.) Morishige F, Murata A and Yamaguchi H: Prolongation of Survival Time in Terminal Human Cancer by Administration of Supplemental Ascorbate. Int J Vitamin Nutr Res Sappi, 1982; 23: 103-113.

(5.) Stone I: Scurvy and tha cancer problem. Amen can Laboratory, September 1976; 21-SO.

(6.) Tsao CS, Dunham WB and Leung PY: Antineoplastic activity of ascorbic acid in human mammary tumor. In Viva, 1988; 2:147.150.

(7.) Ague DB, vera JC and Golds DW: Stromal cell oxidation: a mechanism by which tumors obtain vitamin C. Cancer Research, 1999; 59:45554558.

(8.) Creagan ET, Moertel CG, O'Fallon JR et al: Failure of High-Doss Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Therapy to Benefit Patients with Advanced Cancer. New England J of Medicine, 1979; 301:687-690.

(9.) Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Creagan ET at al: High. dose vitamin C versus placebo in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer who have had no prior chemotherapy. New England J of Medicine, 1985; 312: 137-141.

(10.) Hoffer A: Vitamin C and Cancer. Kingston. Quarry Health Books. 2000.

(11.) Houston R: A new look at old cancer therapies. Prostate Cancer Exchange, 2002; 22: 5, 7-12.

(12.) Leiberman S & Bruning N: The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book. Garden City Park. Avery Publishing Group. 1997.

(13.) Cameron E: A protocol for the use of vitamin C in the treatment of cancer. Medical Hypotheses, 1999; 36: 190-194.

(14.) Cathcart RF: A unique function for ascorbete, Medical Hypotheses, 1991; 35: 32-37.

(15.) Lamson DW and Brignell MS: Antioxidants in Cancer Therapy II: Quick Reference Guide. Alternative Medical Review, 2000; 5:152-163.

Correspondence:

Reagan Houston

828-692-3722

Fax 828-692-3722

h@cancertherapies.org

Reagan Houston is a research chemical engineer in Hendersonville, NC. His prostate cancer is in remission. He is facilitator of a support group. At diagnosis 6 years ago, his PSA was 8.1 and doubling every 6 months. (A PSA of 0 to 4.0 is normal.) Instead of surgery or radiation, he chose triple hormones (Lupron, Eulexin, and Proscar) and Hoffer-type vitamins for about a year. He then stopped the Lupron and Eulexin. In the next 17 months, his PSA drifted up from 0.1 to 1.1 as expected. However, in the last 39 months, his PSA has drifted down to 0.6 and leveled off. He has never had surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Houston believes the low PSA is probably due to the vitamins plus the Proscar. Parts of this article were published in The Prostate Cancer Exchange. 2002; 22:512.