Ascorbate inhibition of angiogenesis in aortic rings ex vivo and subcutaneous Matrigel plugs in vivo.

Background: Angiogenesis is critical to tumor growth and is therefore a potential target for cancer therapy. As many current inhibitors of angiogenesis exhibit host toxicity, natural alternatives are needed. At millimolar concentrations, ascorbate (vitamin C) inhibits migration and tubule formation by mature endothelial cells and endothelial progenitors.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells: a new approach to anti-aging medicine?

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with major causes of morbidity and mortality, as well as numerous age-related conditions. The possibility of preserving or even rejuvenating endothelial function offers a potent means of preventing/treating some of the most fearful aspects of aging such as loss of mental, cardiovascular, and sexual function.Endothelial precursor cells (EPC) provide a continual source of replenishment for damaged or senescent blood vessels.

Inhibition of intracranial glioma growth by endometrial regenerative cells.

Animal studies have demonstrated that selective tropism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for glioma may be used as a means of selective delivery of cytotoxic payloads. Endometrial Regenerative Cells (ERC) are a population of mesenchymal-like cells which possesse pluripotent differentiation capacity and is characterized by unique surface markers and growth factor production. In this study we sought to determine whether unmanipulated ERC would alter the growth of glioma using the aggressive C6/LacZ7 (C6) into Sprague Dawley rat model.

Anti-angiogenic effect of high doses of ascorbic acid.

Pharmaceutical doses of ascorbic acid (AA, vitamin C, or its salts) have been reported to exert anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. One proposed mechanism involves direct cytotoxicity mediated by accumulation of ascorbic acid radicals and hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular environment of tumor cells. However, therapeutic effects have been reported at concentrations insufficient to induce direct tumor cell death.

Endometrial regenerative cells: a novel stem cell population.

Angiogenesis is a critical component of the proliferative endometrial phase of the menstrual cycle. Thus, we hypothesized that a stem cell-like population exist and can be isolated from menstrual blood. Mononuclear cells collected from the menstrual blood contained a subpopulation of adherent cells which could be maintained in tissue culture for >68 doublings and retained expression of the markers CD9, CD29, CD41a, CD44, CD59, CD73, CD90 and CD105, without karyotypic abnormalities.

Cancer is a functional repair tissue.

When a wound occurs, growth and repair genes (GR genes, such as oncogenes, proto-oncogenes, etc.) in surrounding cells are activated and secretion of growth and repair factors (GR factors, such as growth, stem cell, and stimulating factors, etc.) is induced to heal the wound.

Effects of high dose ascorbate administration on L-10 tumor growth in guinea pigs.

Sodium ascorbate is preferentially toxic to tumor cells at high concentrations. It has not been established, however, whether sufficient intra-tumor ascorbate concentrations are safely achievable in vivo. We administered sodium ascorbate subcutaneously or orally for eighteen days to Sewall-Wright strain-2 guinea pigs bearing intradermal L-10 hepatocarcinoma tumors.

Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999.

Objectives: To evaluate possible changes in USDA nutrient content data for 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999 and consider their potential causes.

Methods: We compare USDA nutrient content data published in 1950 and 1999 for 13 nutrients and water in 43 garden crops, mostly vegetables. After adjusting for differences in moisture content, we calculate ratios of nutrient contents, R (1999/1950), for each food and nutrient.

Effects of a high molecular mass Convolvulus arvensis extract on tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Background: Plant materials represent promising sources of anti-cancer agents. We developed and tested a novel extract from the ubiquitous plant Convolvulus arvensis.

Materials And Methods: Convolvulus arvensis components were extracted in boiling water, and small molecules were removed by high-pressure filtration.

Cytotoxicity of ascorbate, lipoic acid, and other antioxidants in hollow fibre in vitro tumours.

Vitamin C (ascorbate) is toxic to tumour cells, and has been suggested as an adjuvant cancer treatment. Our goal was to determine if ascorbate, in combination with other antioxidants, could kill cells in the SW620 hollow fibre in vitro solid tumour model at clinically achievable concentrations. Ascorbate anti-cancer efficacy, alone or in combination with lipoic acid, vitamin K3, phenyl ascorbate, or doxorubicin, was assessed using annexin V staining and standard survival assays.

Intravenous ascorbate as a tumor cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent.

Ascorbic acid and its salts (AA) are preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Given in high enough doses to maintain plasma concentrations above levels that have been shown to be toxic to tumor cells in vitro, AA has the potential to selectively kill tumor cells in a manner similar to other tumor cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. Most studies of AA and cancer to date have not utilized high enough doses of AA to maintain tumor cytotoxic plasma concentrations of AA.

Improved microplate fluorometer counting of viable tumor and normal cells.

An improved method has been developed to count cells in situ based on the measurement of esterase activity with carboxyfluorescein diacetate. This sensitive, semiautomated microplate fluorometer assay was able to estimate viable cell numbers over a range of 5 x 10(2) to 2.6 x 10(5) cells/well in a tumor cell line.