In new research released by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, it has been determined that, in early testing, high doses of vitamin C have been effective in killing cancer cells in mice. The research team found that the vitamin C stopped the growth of two of the more advanced forms of colorectal cancer cells. Their finding have been published in the journal, Science.

When the scientists injected the mice with highly concentrated doses of vitamin C, the growth of the cancer cells in their bodies was immediately stopped and were not observed to be growing again. The doses used in the experiments were equal to about the amount of vitamin C received from eating 300 oranges, reports World Tech Today.

Colorectal cancer cells are notorious for being heavily resistant to current forms of cancer treatment. More tests will be done, scientists declare, but they believe this is an important first step in developing future treatments and a possible cure for cancer. Approximately 93,000 people develop colorectal cancer every year in the country. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in humans.

The research discovered that the colorectal cancer cells were dealing with the vitamin C in a different way than the other cells in the body were. Apparently, scientists note, this different strategy has led to the cancer cells being destroyed. This successful experiment has proven to be highly controversial but could still lead to advanced research and treatment options for cancer patients.

Scientists are still uncertain how the metabolism of vitamin C actually destroys the cancer cells. Others are concerned whether the treatment could only be performed by intravenous methods because the doses of vitamin C are so high to be effective. When the mice were injected with the ultra high doses of vitamin C, the tumors inside their bodies had stopped growing. The vitamin C had, effectively, killed what new cancer cells were trying to grow and spread.