A phase I-II clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid synergy with mEHT in Chinese patients with stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

e20078 Background: Ascorbic acid (AA) infusion and modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT) are widely used by integrative cancer practitioners for many years. However, there are no safety and pharmacokinetics data in Chinese cancer patients. Methods: Blood ascorbic acid in the fasting state was obtained from 35 NSCLC patients; selecting from them 15 patients with stage III-IV entered the phase I-II study. They were randomized allocated into 3 groups. Pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained when they received solely IVAA at concentrations of 1g/kg, 1.2g/kg, and 1.5g/kg, and when IVAA in combination with mEHT. The process was applied 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Participants in the first group received IVAA when mEHT was finished, in the second group IVAA was administered simultaneously with mEHT and in the third group IVAA was applied first, and followed with mEHT. All patients started the trial doses of 1 g/kg for 8 treatments. When there was no DLT observed, the test dose for patients increased to 1.2 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg. DLT was defined as any reversible grade ≥3 adverse events, whether haematological or non-haematological. Results: Fasting plasma AA levels were significantly correlated with stage of the disease. Peak concentration of AA were significantly higher in the simultaneous treatments than in other combinations with mEHT or in solely IVAAmanaged groups. The average scores for the functioning scales continuously increased and the symptoms gradually decrease over the full cycle of the study.3/7 patients with squamous cell lung cancer were CR, 4/7 were PR. 1/8 patient with adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer was PR, 5/8 were SD, and 2/8 were died. Conclusions: IVAA synergies with simultaneous mEHT is safe and the concomitant application significantly increases the plasma AA level for NSCLC patients. QOL is improved when they receive the above treatments. Patients diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer were sensitive to the above two treatments. Clinical trial information: NCT02655913.