Ascorbic acid can be used to target and kill the cells responsible for fuelling fatal tumors. The known vitamins specifically targets cancer stem cells. The researchers have taken the effect of three natural substances, three experimental pharmaceuticals and one clinical drug against cancer.
The research was pioneered by Dr. Michael P. Lisanti, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Salford. According to Science Daily, ascorbic acid is ten times more effective in fighting cancer cell growth compared to pharmaceuticals such as 2-DG. Cancer stem cell is one of the causes of chemotherapy resistance which leads to the failure of treatment in patients having malignant and recurrent disease.
Lisanti and his team assessed bioenergetics which allows cells to thrive and live. Focusing on energy transfer, the team has measured different substances and their effect to cancer stem cells. These substances include stiripentol (clinically-approved drug); CAPE-caffeic acid phenyl-ester, silibinin, and ascorbic acid (natural products); actinonin, FK866, 2-DG (Experimental pharmaceuticals).
Among the natural substances, ascorbic acid proved a more exciting result against cancer stem cells. As reported by WebMD, ascorbic acid, popularly known as vitamin C is known as antioxidant capable of fighting free radicals which is harmful. Furthermore, it also plays important role in in maintaining the health of skin, cartilage, teeth, bone and blood vessels.
Apart from the potent effect of natural antibiotic actinonin and the compound FK866 against cancer stem cell, natural products were also taken into account. Ascorbic acid was proven tenfold more potent than 2-DG in battling cancer stem cell.
Ascorbic acid was previously proven as a non-toxic anti-cancer agent with the study conducted by Linus Pauling. The known vitamin was shown to decrease breast cancer mortality by 25% in Japan. However, its effects against cancer stem cell were not evaluated before. This research could serve as further evidence that vitamin C and other natural substances could play in the fight against cancer.
