Development of a novel low-invasive treatment against acute leukemia adopting enhancement of oxidative stress

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08936
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General internal medicine(including psychosomatic medicine)
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: KAWADA Hiroshi 東海大学, 医学部, 教授 (20276801)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 金子 光代 東海大学, 医学部, 奨励研究員 (40738598) ; 安藤 潔 東海大学, 医学部, 教授 (70176014)
• Research Collaborator: KANEKO Mitsuyo 東海大学, 医学部, 研究補助員 (40738598)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 高濃度ビタミンC / 過剰鉄 / 鉄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although high concentrations of vitamin C (H-VC) have recently been used worldwide as an alternative cancer therapy, the clinical effects of H-VC have been controversial. We assumed that the discrepancy between the anti-cancer effects of H-VC in vitro and those in vivo is due to the difference of extracellular iron ion densities. In this study, we found in vivo that in the presence of excess iron, the anti-leukemic effect of H-VC was completely abrogated, although H-VC enhances anti-leukemic effect. We also demonstrated that a reduction of excess iron restores and enhances the anti-leukemic effects of H-VC in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that H-VC should be cautiously used for cancer patients having high levels of body iron stores, and that lowering body iron stores may enhance the anti-cancer effects of H-VC in the clinical settings.

Free Research Field

血液腫瘍