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. 2009 Oct;9(5):147-52.
doi: 10.4110/in.2009.9.5.147. Epub 2009 Oct 30.

The prospects of vitamin C in cancer therapy

Wang-Jae Lee  1
Affiliations

The prospects of vitamin C in cancer therapy

Wang-Jae Lee. Immune Netw. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a cofactor for a number of metabolic enzymes and is an indisputable essential vitamin C for humans. However, the potential of ascorbate as an anticancer agent has been a topic of controversy. A number of previous reports have addressed both positive aspects and limitations of ascorbate in cancer therapy. In this review, we briefly summarize the potential antitumor effects of ascorbate and its prospects for clinical use.

Keywords: antioxidant; ascorbate; ascorbic acid; cancer; chemotherapy; cytotoxicity; intravenous; prooxidant; tumor growth; vitamin C.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A comparison of survival times in patients supplemented with or without ascorbate. adapted from cameron and pauling (18).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of ascorbate on IL-18 production. Adapted from Lee WJ (39). B16F10 melanomas cells (2×105 cells/ml) were cultured in media with 0.2 mM ascorbate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A model inhibiting IL-18 networks by ascorbate. Ascorbate inhibits IL-18-induced the immune escape of various cancer cells, including gastric, breast, leukemia, and melanomas.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A mechanism of preferential formation of ascorbate radicals (Asc-) and H2O2 in extracellular fluid compared with blood. Adapted from Levine (60).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Clinical studies of ascorbate and cancer survival (17).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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