Positive Health Online

Abstract

KANG and colleagues, Department of Biology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China, examined the effects of ascorbic acid (AA) and DL- alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) on proliferation and redifferentiation of human liver cancer cells in vitro.

Background

Methodology

Cell surface charge, biochemical changes and cell growth in soft agar were measured in human hepatoma cells cultured in vitro. An all- trans retinoic acid (RA) was chosen as a positive control.

Results

Following treatment with AA (4 mmol/L) plus alpha T (1 mmol/L), the cell growth curve and mitotic index decreased markedly; the cellular growth inhibitory rate was 61.3% . Indices of cell malignancy were significantly reduced: cell surface charge decreased; electrophoresis rate dropped from 1.64 to 0.89 m/s/V/cm; average alpha-foetoprotein (alpha-FP) content decreased from 300 to 80 g/gram protein; gamma- glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT) activity decreased from 0.81 to 0.201 U/gram protein. The cell differentiation index – average tyrosine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase activity – increased from 10.6 to 45 g/gram protein. Colonogenic potential decreased by 96.6% .

Conclusion

References

Kang JH et al. Effects of ascorbic acid and DL-alpha-tocopherol on human hepatoma cell proliferation and redifferentiation. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 21 (4): 348-52. Apr 2000.

Comment

The above two studies demonstrate in a rigorous manner, the effects of diet and supplements upon cancer risk and growth of human cancer cells.