metformin + Vitamin C

This combination therapy consists of **metformin**, a biguanide small molecule traditionally used as an oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes, and **high-dose intravenous Vitamin C** (ascorbic acid). It is currently being investigated in a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04033107) led by **Zhongnan Hospital** of Wuhan University. The treatment regimen is designed for patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer, who have failed standard therapies. Metformin's primary anticancer mechanism involves the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, which disrupts cellular energy metabolism and protein synthesis. High-dose Vitamin C, when administered intravenously, acts as a pro-oxidant, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide in the tumor microenvironment, which selectively induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in cancer cells. The synergy between these two agents is intended to exploit the metabolic vulnerabilities of malignant cells to improve outcomes like progression-free survival and overall survival.

Other names

metformin hydrochloride + ascorbic acidhigh-dose Vitamin C + metformin