New York – According to a new study published in the journal Science on November 5, high doses of Vitamin C are capable of stopping the growth of cancer cells.
A group of investigators from different medicine departments and programs, conducted a research that actually is taking place since the 1970s, when studies to determinate the potential of Vitamin C as a source to fight different illnesses, including Cancer, began.
In their new investigation the researchers gave high doses of vitamin C to mice that have KRAS or BRAF mutations of colorectal cancer. The mutation of these kind of genes lead to the development of many types of cancer cell. The experiment showed that the vitamin –commonly found in fruits such as oranges- is able to stop tumor cell growth.
“Cultured CRC cells harboring KRAS or BRAF mutations are selectively killed when exposed to high levels of vitamin C” investigators reported. Colorectal cancer cells with certain mutations “handle” vitamin C differently than other cells, and this difference ultimately kills them, the new study shows.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. 93,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year in the United States. The research states that around half of those cases carry either KRAS or BRAF mutations. These are more aggressive and don’t respond well to current therapies. The new findings could help the development of new treatments.
Scientists also hope that Vitamin C therapy will not only fight Colorectal Cancer but also other types of the disease driven by KRAS mutations such pancreatic cancer.
Even though the findings are very promising, scientists have said that they need to do a lot more research in order to turn the new knowledge into the beginning of an effective colorectal cancer treatment. Researchers need yet to determine if the results seen in mice will duplicate in human beings. If it does, the appropriate doses or the way it should be administered must be determinated as well.
Sources: Science