title: Ascorbic acid with cupric ions as a chemotherapy for human lung tumor xenografts implanted beneath the renal capsule of immunocompetent mice.
abstract: The growth of human lung carcinoma xenografts implanted beneath the renal capsule of immunocompetent mice was investigated (the six-day subrenal capsule assay) by using combinations of ascorbic acid and cupric ions. A maximum suppression of growth of this human lung tumor, LX-1, was observed at an estimated consumption level by the mice of 6 to 8 g ascorbic acid and 2 to 5 mg cupric ions per day per kg body weight. The data suggest that more than one oxidative or degradative product of ascorbic acid or of some copper compounds may be responsible for the observed antitumor activities, and that the chemotherapeutic effect is being produced at some stoichiometric ratios of ascorbic acid to cupric ions. When such a combination of the two substances was consumed by the mice, optimal therapeutic effect was exerted on the implanted xenografts.
authors.affiliation: Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94306.
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Dunham
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D004249:DNA Damage; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013370:Subrenal Capsule Assay; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016877:Oxidants; D003300:Copper; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C029892:cupric chloride