Abstract
Vitamin C, which exists predominantly as ascorbate anion under physiological pH conditions, is an essential micronutrient for humans. Inadequate vitamin C consumption, certain genetic variation in transporters, and cancer-associated oxidative stress may collectively contribute to the intracellular vitamin C deficiency in cancer cells. In addition to being a well-known antioxidant, vitamin C serves as cofactor for various functionally important enzymes such as ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α hydroxylase. Due to the pivotal role of these enzymes in cancer, compensation for the intracellular vitamin C deficiency is implicated in therapeutic potentials for cancer treatment. Furthermore, vitamin C is also considered as a prodrug to deliver free radicals to preferentially damage cancer cells by intravenous infusion of high doses. Although using vitamin C to treat cancer has a long controversial history, the recently uncovered function of vitamin C in regulating the demethylation of DNA and histone likely revitalizes the hope for this easily accessible and inexpensive vitamin in cancer patient care.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Molecular Nutrition |
Subtitle of host publication | Vitamins |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 691-709 |
Number of pages | 19 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128119075 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780128119365 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- 5-hydroxymethylation
- Cancer
- Collagen
- DNA demethylation
- Free radicals
- HIF-1α
- TET methylcytosine dioxygenase
- Vitamin C
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)