Daily doses of 1,000 mg of oral vitamin C are associated with higher overall survival rates after nearly three years of follow-up in patients with pre-cancer blood disorders and early-stage blood cancers, according to an exploratory analysis of phase 2 clinical trial results published in the American Cancer Society journal CANCER.
Phase 2 EVITA Trial Design and Patient Demographics
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 EVITA clinical trial evaluated 109 participants diagnosed with clinical cytopenia of unknown significance (CCUS) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). According to researchers, these blood disorders carry a risk of progressing into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a difficult-to-treat cancer type. These conditions increase in frequency among older adults. At the time of the trial, none of the participants were undergoing cancer treatment.
Researchers randomly assigned participants to two groups. The treatment group received 1,000 mg of oral vitamin C daily for one year, while the control group received an identical-appearing placebo containing no active supplement. Neither participants nor trial staff knew group assignments during the study period, according to trial documentation.
Biological Mechanisms and Inflammatory Pathway Effects
People with pre-cancer blood disorders and blood cancers frequently display chronically low levels of vitamin C. Investigators noted that participants taking the daily supplement experienced fewer adverse events throughout the trial and follow-up period. While the treatment did not significantly alter the growth rates of abnormal blood cells compared to the placebo group, laboratory evaluations revealed distinct molecular shifts.
According to the study findings, vitamin C altered levels of inflammatory signaling molecules known as cytokines. These biological shifts suggest that restoring vitamin C levels may help regulate inflammatory pathways previously linked to the growth and progression of pre-cancerous blood cells.
Survival Outcomes and Next Steps for Research
An exploratory analysis of the trial data showed that participants assigned to the vitamin C group were significantly more likely to be alive after approximately three years of follow-up than those who received the placebo. However, investigators emphasized that these findings require confirmation through a larger phase 3 clinical trial before any clinical practice changes occur.
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon), a distinguished professor at Van Andel Institute, co-corresponding author, and co-leader of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer® Epigenetics Dream Team, stated that the results point toward a growing emphasis on cancer interception—intervening before cancer becomes established. Kirsten Grønbæk, M.D., Ph.D., a professor at the University of Copenhagen and hematologist who led the international trial, noted that while the preliminary findings lay important groundwork, it remains too early to issue definitive clinical recommendations.
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