AIMS Medical Science, Volume 3(1): 41-51. DOI: 10.3934/medsci.2016.1.41 Received 18 October 2015, Accepted 15 December 2015, Published 27 December 2015 http://www.aimspress.com/journal/medicalScience Review article Vitamin C and Cancer Annekathryn Goodman * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Yawkey 9E, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114 * Correspondence: Email: agoodman@mgh.harvard.edu; Tel: 1-617-724-5242 Abstract: Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has been proposed as an anticancer agent, as an intervention to reduce cancer incidence, and also as a medication to reduce cancer treatment-related side effects. While there has been significant basic science research that has evaluated the potential tumoricidal mechanisms of action, clinical studies have been underpowered, retrospective, or poorly designed. Current systematic reviews have suggested that the outcome data from vitamin C therapy is limited. There is an important need for prospective clinical trials and pharmacologic studies to fully evaluate the potential of vitamin C as an anticancer agent. Keywords: vitamin C; ascorbic acid; complementary and alternative therapy; cancer therapeutics 1. Introduction Intravenous and oral vitamin C or ascorbic acid has been used for decades with the hope of improving wound healing, reducing infections, boosting the immune system, and treating cancers [1]. It is a glucose-derived organic compound, which is a mild reducing agent and anti-oxidant. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and deficiencies can lead to the life-threatening condition of scurvy [2]. Vitamin C was first proposed as an anticancer agent in 1959 when it was postulated to limit metastatic disease [3]. This hypothesis was expanded in the 1970s to suggest that ascorbate might inhibit hyaluronidases, through direct incorporation into a hyaluronidase inhibitor complex with