Inhibition of the development of metastases by dietary vitamin C: K 3 combination

Henryk S. Taper, James M. Jamison, Jacques Gilloteaux, Jack L Summers, Pedro Buc Calderon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The tumor growth-inhibiting and chemo-potentiating effects of vitamin C and K3combinations have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of orally administered vitamin C and K3 on the metastasis of mouse liver tumor (T.L.T.) cells implanted in C3H mice. Adult male C3H mice were given water containing vitamin C and K3 (15 g/0.15 g dissolved in 1000 ml) beginning 2 weeks before tumor transplantation until the end of the experiment. T.L.T. cells (106) were implanted intramuscularly in the right thigh of mice. All mice were sacrificed 42 days after tumor transplantation. Primary tumor, lungs, lymph nodes and other organs or tissues suspected of harboring metastases were macroscopically examined. Samples of primary tumors, their local lymph nodes, lungs and main organs such as liver, kidneys, spleen were taken for histological examination. Forty-two percent of control mice exhibited lung metastases and 27% possessed metastases in local lymph nodes whereas 24% of vitamin-treated mice exhibited lung metastases and 10% possessed local lymph nodes metastases. The total number of lung metastases was 19 in control group and 10 in vitamin C and K 3-treated mice. Histopathological examination of the metastatic tumors from the vitamin-treated mice revealed the presence of many tumor cells undergoing autoschizic cell death. These results demonstrate that oral vitamin C and K3 significantly inhibited the metastases of T.L.T. tumors in C3H mice. At least a portion of this inhibition was due to tumor cell death by autoschizis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)955-967
Number of pages13
JournalLife Sciences
Volume75
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Jul 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ascorbate
  • Lung
  • Lymph node
  • Menadione
  • Metastases
  • Vitamin CK

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhibition of the development of metastases by dietary vitamin C: K 3 combination'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this