A Model of Early Cancer: The Effect of Ascorbate and Its Oxidation or Degeneration Products on Tumor Incidence and Growth in Syngeneic Guinea Pigs Given Minimal Numbers of Tumor Cells

In a series of experiments, minimal numbers of tumor cells were injected into guinea pigs, and the effect of administering vitamin C in their drinking water on tumor onset and tumor growth rate was investigated. In some of the work, air was bubbled through the water to ascertain if ascorbate or its oxidation products had any different effect on the onset times and growth rates. In all experiments, it was found that adding vitamin C to the drinking water significantly increases the tumor onset time but has no discernible effect on the tumor growth rate once the tumor is palpable. No significant change in the tumor-free survival times or the tumor growth rates results from bubbling air through the ascorbate-supplemented drinking water.