title: Influence of ascorbic acid on MCA-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of mice.
abstract: The present study evaluates the possible modulatory influence of ascorbic acid (AA) on (methylcholanthrene) MCA-induced cervical carcinogenesis in mice. Ascorbic acid was given daily for different durations in drinking water at the dose level of 2 mg/ml. In animals that received no modulator, placement of cotton threads impregnated with beeswax containing -600 micrograms of MCA for 16 weeks yielded 76.1% carcinomas in the uterine cervix. Administration of AA for the entire period of 16 weeks resulted in the reduction of MCA-induced cervical carcinomas to 33.3%. AA was capable of reducing cervical cancer incidence to 33.3% even when it was given for only 6 weeks following MCA-thread insertion into the uterine cervix. However, when it was given for a period of 10 weeks after 6 weeks of MCA-thread insertion the carcinoma incidence was as high as 66.6%. Results of the present study demonstrate that AA, especially when given during the initiational phase, significantly inhibits MCA-induced cervical carcinogenesis in mice.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid