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

doi:10.1016/0304-3835(96)04212-7

Cancer Letters

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

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

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

Abstract

Free Rad. Biol. Med.

Cancer Lett.

Free Rad. Biol. Med.

Biochem. Pharmacol.

Mutat. Res.

Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

Am. J Clin. Nutr.

Growth suppression of human leukemic cells in vitro by l-ascorbic acid

Cancer Res.

Vitamin C preferential toxicity for malignant melanoma cells

Nature

Effects of sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (vitamin K3) treatment on human tumor cell growth in vitro. I. Synergism of combined vitamin C and K3 action

Cancer

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

Cancer Res.

Molecular mechanisms of action of anticancer agents involving free radical intermediates

Free Rad. Biol. Med.

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.

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

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.

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

Biochem. J.

Effects of sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (vitamin K₃) treatment on human tumor cell growth in vitro. I. Synergism of combined vitamin C and K₃ action