Cancer Letters

Cancer Letters

Volume 103, Issue 2, 5 June 1996, Pages 183-189
Cancer Letters

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) improves the antineoplastic activity of doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel in human breast carcinoma cells in vitro

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3835(96)04212-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Utilizing a microplate ATP bioluminescence assay, two human breast carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were tested against doxorubicin (DOX), cisplatin (DDP), and paclitaxel (Tx) alone and in combination with ascorbic acid (Vit C). In both cell lines, Vit C exhibited cytotoxic activity at high concentrations (i.e. 102–103 μM). Both cell lines also were resistant to DOX. MCF-7 was found to be DDP-resiseant, MDA-MB-231 was moderately sensitive to DDP. Both cell lines were strongly sensitive to Tx. Vit C both at non-cytotoxic (1 μM) and moderately cytotoxic concentrations (102μM) improved the cytotoxicity of DOX, DDP, and Tx significantly. Combination effects between Vit C and DDP or Tx were partly synergistic and partly additive or subadditive whereas a consistent synergism was found between Vit C and DOX. The mechanisms by which Vit C potentiates the cytostatics studied are yet unclear and should be evaluated further.

References (32)

  • A. Begleiter

    Cytocidal action of the quinone group and its relationship to antitumor activity

    Cancer Res.

    (1983)
  • J.W. Lown

    Molecular mechanisms of action of anticancer agents involving free radical intermediates

    Free Rad. Biol. Med.

    (1985)
  • C.G. Moertel et al.

    High-dose vitamin C versus placebo in the treatment of patients with advanced canecr who have had no prior chemotherapy. A randomized double-blind comparison

    N. Engl. J. Med.

    (1985)
  • K.N. Prasad et al.

    Sodium ascorbate potentiates the growth inhibitory effect of certain agents on neuroblastoma cells in culture

  • K.N. Prasad et al.

    Modification of the effect of tamoxifen, cis-platin, DTIC, and interferon-alpha 2b on human melanoma cells in culture by a mixture of vitamins

    Nutr. Cancer.

    (1994)
  • C.D. Chiang et al.

    Ascorbic acid increases drug accumulation and reverses vin cristine resistance of human non-small-cell lung-cancer cells

    Biochem. J.

    (1994)
  • Cited by (217)

    • Cellular landscaping of cisplatin resistance in cervical cancer

      2022, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy
      Citation Excerpt :

      Vitamin C has potential anti-cancer properties as well [257,258]. The efficiency of numerous chemotherapeutic drugs such as cisplatin has been enhanced by the combination of vitamin C [259,260]. The p53 gene, responsible for inducing apoptosis is stabilized by vitamin C [261].

    • Nutraceuticals in cancer prevention

      2021, Nutraceuticals: Efficacy, Safety and Toxicity
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text