ascorbic-acid and Soft-Tissue-Neoplasms

At birth, a male child presented a 6 cm tumour in the right leg. The tumour was partially removed after just 12 days. Histology showed a congenital fibrosarcoma associated with reactive lymphadenitis. A first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy did not prevent the rapid progression of the disease. Subsequent evaluation for surgical removal raised serious concerns due to the need for a major operation involving total amputation of the right leg and hemipelvectomy. Since surgery could not exclude the possibility of disease recurrence and since the traditional cycles of chemotherapy did not offer any possibility of a cure, the parents opted for the Di Bella Method. The combined use of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Retinoids solubilized in Vit. E, Vit. C, Vit. D3, Calcium, and Chondroitin sulfate associated with low doses of Cyclophosphamide resulted in a complete objective response, still present 14 years later, with no toxicity and without the need for hospitalization, allowing a normal quality of life and perfectly normal adolescent psycho-physical development.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Ascorbic Acid; Bromocriptine; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Chondroitin Sulfates; Cyclophosphamide; Fibrosarcoma; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Leg; Maintenance Chemotherapy; Male; Melatonin; Remission Induction; Retinoids; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Somatostatin; Vitamin E; Vitamins

Genomic DNA was isolated from subcutaneous masses observed in CD-1 and p53+/- heterozygous mice during the course of carcinogenicity studies in the vehicle control groups. These masses resulted after daily subcutaneous injection of an antioxidant vehicle with a pH adjusted to 3-4. The vehicle was 1.0% ascorbic acid plus 0.05% sodium metabisulfite in 0.75% saline in a dosing volume of 10 ml/kg/day. These masses were first palpable after 13 and 37 weeks of dosing among p53+/- and CD-1 mice, respectively. By week 26, the incidence of these masses was 89% and 80% in male and female p53+/- mice, respectively (n = 15 mice/sex) and was 0% in both male and female CD-1 mice (n = 60 mice/sex). These masses originated from panniculus carnosus muscle. Histopathological examination of the p53+/- mouse masses indicated the tumors to be sarcomas of spindle-cell origin. The histopathological examination of the masses in the CD-1 mice revealed fibrosarcomas. Five mice/sex/strain were randomly selected from a pool of mice that developed these masses in the course of the two studies. Frozen tissues from these masses were used to examine the DNA for loss of the functional p53 allele in the p53+/- mice (i.e., loss of heterozygosity, or LOH) or for loss of one of the alleles in the wild type (p53+/+) CD-1 mice by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Loss of the functional allele was observed only in the tumor from one p53+/- male mouse. These results support a nongenotoxic mechanism for these injection site masses.

Topics: Alleles; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Carcinogenicity Tests; Female; Fibrosarcoma; Heterozygote; Injections, Subcutaneous; Loss of Heterozygosity; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Sensitivity and Specificity; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Sulfites; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The effect of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) on methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced local malignant sarcomas in mice was investigated. Four groups of mice were given single intramuscular application of MCA at a dose level of 0.5 mg/0.1 ml olive oil for each animal. Doses of 6, 25, and 35 mg vitamin C (VC)/mouse were given to animals of groups B, C and D, respectively. VC was applied in drinking water by intragastric administration 5 times weekly for the first 20 weeks. Animals of group A served as carcinogenic controls. The application of VC statistically prevented the induction of sarcomas in mice of groups B, C and D compared to carcinogenic controls (group A). VC supplementation did not significantly reduce the diameters and weights of tumors. It was concluded that, under the experimental conditions conducted, VC significantly prevented the induction of sarcomas in mice providing a good prophylactic activity; however, it did not achieve a significant therapeutic level.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Methylcholanthrene; Mice; Sarcoma, Experimental; Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Of one hundred and twenty-six patients with Gardner's syndrome, 60% showed soft tissue tumors, 32% showed osteomatosis, 67% polyposis, and 20% the complete triad. Bowel cancer developed in 32% of the patients. The frequency of other diseases in these patients showed fibrous tumors in 8%, and two patients with cancer of the ampulla of Vater; otherwise the diseases seen did not show any major variation from what might be expected for the group at risk. Laboratory evaluation has included the demonstration of increased fecal cholesterol and primary bile acids in these patients. The recommended surgical treatment is colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis at a measured 12 cm level. This level of ileorectal anastomosis may be vital in giving a regression of rectal polyps, which was seen in 15 to 17 patients so treated. The conversion of an ileosigmoid to an ileorectal anastomosis resulted in polyp regression in one patient. The oral administration of ascorbic acid gave polyp regression in seven of 10 patients. There may be a possible relationship of fecal coprostanol and cholesterol levels and polyp regression.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Bone Neoplasms; Child; Colectomy; Colon, Sigmoid; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Ileum; Intestinal Polyps; Male; Rectal Diseases; Rectum; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Syndrome