Vitamin C Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin C, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, information.

Reciprocal effects of ascorbate on cancer cell growth and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and transforming growth factor-beta.

Philips N, Keller T, Holmes C

Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ 08701, USA. nphilips@fdu.edu

Cancer is associated with increased cell growth, and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The dose-dependent effects of ascorbate (Vitamin C) on cancer cell growth, and expression of MMPs and TGF-beta were examined. Renal-adenocarcinoma, melanoma and mammary cancer cells were dosed with 0-100mM ascorbate and examined for cell survival or proliferation, and expression of MMP-1, MMP-2 and TGF-beta at protein and/or mRNA levels. The lower concentrations of ascorbate significantly inhibited cancer cell viability while stimulating MMPs and TGF-beta expression, indicating elimination of cancer cells with damage to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Conversely, ascorbate at higher concentrations dramatically stimulated cell proliferation and inhibited MMPs and TGF-beta expression, implicating growth and ECM advantage.

Published 5 September 2007 in Cancer Lett, 256(1): 49-55.
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