Positive Health Online

Abstract

GUNAWARDENA and co-workers, Department of Internal Medicine and Pathology, ARUP Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA, report that a combination of vitamins C and E inhibits the protein survivin, and thus the growth of human prostate cancer cells.

Background

Background: The hypothesis behind this study was that combinations of vitamins C and E would inhibit the expression of the survivin gene in prostate cancer cells.

Methodology

Methods: The growth and programmed cell death (apoptosis) of cells from two different human prostate cancer cell lines was measured in culture. Standard molecular biology techniques were used to assess survivinG gene expression.

Results

Results: All the tested combinations of vitamins C and E suppressed the growth of prostate cancer cells. Vitamin C appeared to enhance the growth suppressive effect of vitamin E. Apoptosis was enhanced, and survivin expression was decreased.

Conclusion

Combinations of vitamins C and E are potent suppressors of human prostate cancer cell growth.

References

Gunawardena K, Campbell LD, Meikle AW. Combinatio~ therapy with vitamins C plus E inhibits survivin and human prostate cancer cell growth. The Prostate 59 (3): 319-327, May 2004.

Comment

This is an important result in cell lines, which needs to be followed up with further clinical and ultimately human testing.