3.6 million from U.S. Department of Defense for bladder cancer research using Vitamin C
Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard pre-surgery treatment for most bladder cancer types, but over half of muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients cannot receive it due to health issues. To address this, researchers are starting a Phase II clinical trial to test a new combination therapy: high-dose intravenous Vitamin C with gemcitabine and carboplatin.
Phase I results showed this therapy reduced tumor size in up to one-third of patients before surgery and was well-tolerated with few side effects, maintaining patients’ quality of life.
John Taylor, III, MD, MS, a professor in the Department of Urologic Surgery and Cancer Biology and co-leader of the cancer center’s Drug Discovery, Delivery, and Experimental Therapeutics research program, is leading the multi-site study.
The Phase I study was conducted at KU Cancer Center. The Phase II study will be conducted at both KU Cancer Center and the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participant recruitment is expected to start by the end of 2024.
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) shared a post regarding this study on X:
“John Taylor, MD, MS of the University of Kansas Department of Urology has secured a $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study high-dose intravenous Vitamin C for treating muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Click here to learn more.”