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High dose vitamin C
High-dose intravenous vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant to generate reactive oxygen species that selectively damage cancer cells while supporting immune function.
High-dose intravenous vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant to generate reactive oxygen species that selectively damage cancer cells while supporting immune function. Used for Advanced cancer (various types, as adjunctive therapy), Cancer-related fatigue and quality of life support.
At a glance
| Generic name | High dose vitamin C |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Koreaeundan Vitamin C 1000 |
| Sponsor | Seoul National University Hospital |
| Drug class | Vitamin/Antioxidant |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
At high concentrations achieved through intravenous administration, ascorbic acid generates hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen species that preferentially accumulate in tumor cells due to their altered metabolism, leading to oxidative stress and cell death. Additionally, vitamin C supports immune cell function and may enhance the efficacy of conventional cancer therapies through multiple pathways including collagen synthesis and antioxidant enzyme modulation.
Approved indications
- Advanced cancer (various types, as adjunctive therapy)
- Cancer-related fatigue and quality of life support
Common side effects
- Infusion site reactions
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Hyperglycemia (in susceptible patients)
- Kidney stone formation (with chronic use)
Key clinical trials
- Toddler Biomarker of Nutrition Study (NA)
- A Phase 2 Study Adding Ascorbate to Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for NSCLC (PHASE2)
- Ascorbic Acid and Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Lymphoma, CCUS, and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (PHASE2)
- Ascorbate in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (PHASE2)
- Ascorbate With Durvalumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (PHASE1)
- The Effect of Nutritional Supplementation on Actinic Purpura: A Pilot Study (NA)
- High-dose Ascorbate (HDA) in Combination With Standard of Care Azacitidine and Venetoclax in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) (PHASE1)
- All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) Plus PD-1 Inhibition in Recurrent IDH-Mutant Glioma (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- High dose vitamin C CI brief — competitive landscape report
- High dose vitamin C updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Seoul National University Hospital portfolio CI