Failure of ascorbic acid to inhibit fanft induced bladder cancer

L ascorbic acid has been shown to reduce the elevated level of urinary chemiluminescence found in patients with bladder cancer. Thus, it has been suggested that vitamin C might be efficacious in bladder tumor prophylaxis. However, there is no clinical evidence to support this thesis. The authors evaluated whether L ascorbic acid given concomitantly with the urinary carcinogen N [4 (5 nitro 2 furyl) 2 thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) was capable of reducing the incidence of subsequent bladder tumors. No inhibitory effect was observed. Unless evidence is obtained demonstrating bladder tumor prevention by L ascorbic acid its routine administration to patients with bladder cancer is not indicated.