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Metabolism and Nutrition in Oncology 2013; 01(01): e2-e6
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348256
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Decreased Plasma Ascorbate Levels in Stage IV Melanoma Patients

T. Schleich
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Tuebingen, Germany
,
S. Rodemeister
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Tuebingen, Germany
,
S. Venturelli
2   Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Germany
,
T. Sinnberg
3   Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tuebingen, Germany
,
C. Garbe
3   Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tuebingen, Germany
,
C. Busch
3   Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tuebingen, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 18 March 2013

accepted 26 May 2013

Publication Date:
25 June 2013 (online)

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Abstract

It has been reported that cancer patients frequently express low ascorbate (ascorbic acid, vitamin C) blood levels. However, so far this was not shown for melanoma patients.

Total ascorbate (TAA) levels were determined in plasma of healthy control individuals (n=31, mean age: 47.3 years, TAA: 64.86 µM) and in 126 melanoma patients (stage I: n=30, mean age: 51 years, TAA: 59.95 µM; stage II: n=30, mean age: 46.8 years, TAA: 58.85 µM; stage III: n=32, mean age: 48.6 years, TAA: 57.27 µM; stage IV: n=34, mean age: 51.1 years, TAA: 47.16 µM). Plasma TAA levels in stage IV patients were significantly reduced by 27.3% when compared to healthy individuals (p=0.0001, t-test). The reduced plasma TAA levels in stage IV patients negatively correlated with increased S100 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Further, plasma TAA levels were determined in additional 9 stage IV patients directly before and 24 h after intravenous polychemotherapy (carboplatin+paclitaxel, n=5) or immunotherapy (ipilimumab, n=4). TAA levels significantly decreased 24 h after therapy (mean TAA before therapy: 48.7 µM; mean TAA after therapy: 43.0 µM; 11.4% reduction, p<0.05, t-test).

Ascorbate levels in the plasma of 126 melanoma patients were significantly decreased in the cohort of stage IV patients and were further decreased by polychemo- or immunotherapy in stage IV patients. Considering the importance of adequate ascorbate supply, ascorbate substitution in physiological doses could be considered for late-stage melanoma patients.

Key words

vitamin C - ascorbic acid - cancer - chemotherapy - ipilimumab - scurvy
 

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