ascorbic-acid and Bronchial-Neoplasms

The relationship of vitamins to cancer is very complex. Three types of interactions are possible: the effect of vitamins on tumor growth, the effect of tumors on vitamin metabolism, and the effect of vitamins on chemical carcinogens and anti-tumor chemotherapeutic agents. The significance of vitamins with particular references to vitamins A,B-complex and C, in cancer has been reviewed.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Bone Neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Bronchial Neoplasms; Humans; Neoplasms; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Tryptophan; Vitamin A; Vitamin B Complex; Vitamin B Deficiency; Vitamins

Plasma antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E and carotene were measured in a group of 2,974 men participating in the third examination of the prospective Basel Study in 1971-1973. In 1985, the vital status and mortality of all participants were assessed. A total of 204 men had died from cancer, including 68 with bronchus cancer and 37 with gastrointestinal cancer (20 with stomach cancer and 17 with large bowel cancer excluding cancer of the rectum). Overall mortality from cancer was associated with low mean plasma levels of carotene adjusted for cholesterol (p less than 0.01) and of vitamin C (p less than 0.01). Bronchus and stomach cancers were associated with a low mean plasma carotene level (p less than 0.01). Subjects with subsequent stomach cancer also had lower mean vitamin C and lipid-adjusted vitamin A levels than did survivors (p less than 0.05). After calculation of the relative risk using the Cox model with exclusion of mortality during the first 2 years of follow-up, low plasma carotene (below quartile 1) was associated with a significantly increased risk for bronchus cancer (relative risk (RR) = 1.8, p less than 0.05), low plasma levels of carotene and vitamin A with all cancers (RR = 2.47, p less than 0.01), and low plasma retinol in older subjects (greater than age 60 years) with lung cancer (RR = 2.17, p less than 0.05). Low levels of vitamin C increased the risk of stomach cancer (RR = 2.38) and gastrointestinal cancer (RR = 2.46) in older subjects, but only significantly with the inclusion of the first 2 years. The authors conclude that low plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins are associated with an increased risk of subsequent cancer mortality. This effect was stronger in men above age 60 years at blood sampling, and the effect seems to be site-specific.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Bronchial Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stomach Neoplasms; Time Factors; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Vitamins

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Bronchial Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Lipids; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stomach Neoplasms; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

The capability of ascorbic acid (AA) and transretinoic acid (RA) to interfere with 3H-benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] binding to DNA has been evaluated in cultured bronchial mucosa explants from patients with bronchial cancer. The results show that the DNA-bound 3H-B(a)P is smaller in treated cultures than in controls. To explain this finding, it is proposed that AA, acting as antioxidant, inhibits the oxidative degradation of B(a)P, and that RA, a lipophilic compound interacting with the lipid components of mixed function oxidases, could modify the activities of these enzymes. Both vitamins decrease the concentration of ultimate carcinogen metabolites, which can interact with DNA. Furthermore, the treatment with RA does not increase DNA synthesis, while AA inhibits 3H-thymidine incorporation.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Ascorbic Acid; Benzo(a)pyrene; Bronchi; Bronchial Neoplasms; Cell Division; DNA; Drug Synergism; Humans; Organ Culture Techniques; Thymidine; Tretinoin

The aims of follow up of patients with bronchial carcinoma are: 1. Complete use of all therapeutical possibilities. 2. Avoidance of preventable complications of therapeutical prescriptions. 3. Prevention of sicknesses beside the basic complaint. 4. The rehabilitation of the patient. The medical structure for realizing these aims, we suppose in the cooperation of the doctor of the family or the factory, who will see the patient in intervals of four weeks, and the ambulant working pulmologist, who will see the patient in intervals of 3 months, and the thorax-centre, what the patient will consult once or twice the year, and the centre for rehabilitation, where patients with limited cardiorespiratoric function will get an appropriated training of condition. Two cure-places with this special direction will satisfy the require in the GDR. The oncologist of the district where the patient lives will be the coordinator of all parts of this system and the controller to keep its function. The effectivity of follow up will be realised by clear and proofed recommendations by the therapeutical centres and the continued consultations on actual problem cases with the shared doctors. The data processing can do an useful help in this cooperation.

Topics: Aftercare; Ascorbic Acid; Bronchial Neoplasms; Germany, East; Humans; Hypertension; Legislation, Medical; Neoplasm Metastasis; Physical Therapy Modalities; Work Capacity Evaluation

Three cases are described, 2 of Hodgkin's disease and a further case of bronchial carcinoma, where high dosage ascorbic acid treatment appeared to be associated with the development of potentially dangerous symptoms. It is suggested that mega ascorbic acid therapy should be given with caution in malignant disease, with a slow build-up over several days to high levels of dosage.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Bronchial Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Dyspnea; Fever; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Neoplasms; Orthomolecular Therapy

Ascorbic acid metabolism is associated with a number of mechanisms known to be involved in host resistance to malignant disease. Cancer patients are significantly depleted of ascorbic acid, and in our opinion this demonstrable biochemical characteristic indicates a substantially increased requirement and utilization of this substance to potentiate these various host resistance factors. The results of a clinical trial are presented in which 100 terminal cancer patients were given supplemental ascorbate as part of their routine management. Their progress is compared to that of 1000 similar patients treated identically, but who received no supplemental ascorbate. The mean survival time is more than 4.2 times as great for the ascorbate subjects (more than 210 days) as for the controls (50 days). Analysis of the survival-time curves indicates that deaths occur for about 90% of the ascorbate-treated patients at one-third the rate for the controls and that the other 10% have a much greater survival time, averaging more than 20 times that for the controls. The results clearly indicate that this simple and safe form of medication is of definite value in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Breast Neoplasms; Bronchial Neoplasms; Colonic Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Rectal Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms; Terminal Care; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

In a study of the vitamin C status of 50 patients with malignant disease, 46 had leucocyte levels less than the lower limit of the normal range (18-50,μg/10(8) W.B.C.) and of these 30 had very low levels (< 12.5 μg/10(8) W.B.C.). Physical signs compatible with subclinical scurvy were frequently recorded and there was a significant decrease in capillary fragility in those with the lowest levels. Most patients had an inadequate dietary intake of ascorbic acid-containing foods and this was felt to be the major factor in producing the vitamin depletion.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Bronchial Neoplasms; Capillary Fragility; Colonic Neoplasms; Diet; Humans; Leukocytes; Lymphatic Diseases; Neoplasms; Rectal Neoplasms; Scurvy; Stomach Neoplasms

Topics: Androgens; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Azirines; Bronchial Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Synergism; Fluorouracil; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Hydrazines; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Lectins; Lung Neoplasms; Mechlorethamine; Mercaptopurine; Mesothelioma; Methotrexate; Phenylbutazone; Pleural Neoplasms; Thiotepa; Vinblastine