title: Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) improves the antineoplastic activity of doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel in human breast carcinoma cells in vitro.
abstract: Utilizing a microplate ATP bioluminescence assay, two human breast carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were tested against doxorubicin (DOX), cisplatin (DDP), and paclitaxel (Tx) alone and in combination with ascorbic acid (Vit C). In both cell lines, Vit C exhibited cytotoxic activity at high concentrations (i.e. 10(2)-10(3) microM). Both cell lines also were resistant to DOX. MCF-7 was found to be DDP-resistant, MDA-MB-231 was moderately sensitive to DDP. Both cell lines were strongly sensitive to Tx. Vit C both at non-cytotoxic (1 microM) and moderately cytotoxic concentrations (10(2) microM) improved the cytotoxicity of DOX, DDP, and Tx significantly. Combination effects between Vit C and DDP or Tx were partly synergistic and partly additive or subadditive whereas a consistent synergism was found between Vit C and DOX. The mechanisms by which Vit C potentiates the cytostatics studied are yet unclear and should be evaluated further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Bonn Medical Center, Germany.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kurbacher
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolster
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bruckner
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004317:Doxorubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002945:Cisplatin