Antiproliferative Effect of Ascorbic Acid Is Associated with the Inhibition of Genes Necessary to Cell Cycle Progression
2009

Ascorbic Acid's Role in Cancer Cell Growth

Sample size: 7 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Belin Sophie, Kaya Ferdinand, Duisit Ghislaine, Giacometti Sarah, Ciccolini Joseph, Fontés Michel

Primary Institution: Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France

Hypothesis

Can ascorbic acid inhibit the expression of genes necessary for cell cycle progression and affect tumor growth?

Conclusion

Ascorbic acid has an antiproliferative effect on cancer cells, likely due to its ability to inhibit genes involved in protein synthesis.

Supporting Evidence

  • Ascorbic acid inhibited the expression of genes necessary for cell cycle progression.
  • High concentrations of ascorbic acid induced S-phase arrest in cancer cells.
  • In vivo studies showed reduced tumor growth in mice treated with high doses of ascorbic acid.

Takeaway

Ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, can help stop cancer cells from growing by blocking certain genes, but it only works at high doses.

Methodology

The study used human pangenomic microarrays and in vitro assays to analyze the effects of ascorbic acid on gene expression and cell proliferation.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of cell lines and animal models used in the study.

Limitations

The study primarily focused on specific cell lines and may not generalize to all cancer types.

Participant Demographics

Nude mice were used for in vivo experiments, with a focus on tumor growth.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0022

Confidence Interval

95%

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0004409

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