title: Ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
abstract: This review is aimed at the systematic mapping of ascorbic acid in the prevention and/or treatment of cancer in clinical and non-clinical studies from 2011 to 2015, in order to understand dose-response variations as well as its mechanisms of action as an antioxidant and antitumor agent. Seventy-eight articles were retrieved from the PubMed/Bireme database, of which only 30 included ascorbic acid in the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. However, there are controversies regarding doses and a lack of clinical studies featuring its mechanism of action more clearly. Other studies are needed to understand dose-response variations, as well as its targeting mechanisms of action, both as an antioxidant and antitumor agent, to assist treatment and prevention of cancer, aiming at better quality of life for both patients and the general population.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Oliveira Ferreira da
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Melo de
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Graduate Program, Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (Renorbio), PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinícius Oliveira Barros de
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.|Biotechnology Graduate Program, Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (Renorbio), PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Amélia de Carvalho Melo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.|Biotechnology Graduate Program, Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (Renorbio), PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benedito Borges da
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid