Biomaterial Database

The role of vitamins A, beta-carotene, E and C in cancer cell biology. 1994

A Lupulescu

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

Vitamins A (retinol, retinoids), beta-carotene (provitamin A), E (alpha-tocopherol), and C (ascorbic acid) are used in experimental, clinical and epidemiological studies for cancer chemoprevention and treatment. The cellular and metabolic effects are depending on the dose used, duration of exposure, and cancer cell type. Despite recent advances, the anticarcinogenic mechanisms remain as yet unknown. Studies regarding the role of vitamins A, beta-carotene, E and C in cancer cell biology and metabolism are of critical importance for their use in cancer treatment. Autoradiographic, ultrastructural and cell surface studies demonstrated that vitamins A, E and C are strong regulator factors of cancer cell differentiation, cell regression, membrane biogenesis, DNA, RNA, protein, and collagen synthesis, as well as transformation of precancer cells into cancer cells. These vitamins exert cytotoxic and cytostatic effects, and may reverse the cancer cell to the normal phenotype. Interrelation of vitamins A, E and C with oncogenes and growth factors play an important role in cancer cell biology. The data presented in this review can provide new insights for the understanding of anticarcinogenic mechanisms, and a rationale for the use of vitamins A, E and C in cancer chemo-prevention and treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D002338	Carotenoids	The general name for a group of fat-soluble pigments found in green, yellow, and leafy vegetables, and yellow fruits. They are aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 4 terpene subunits.	Carotenes,Carotenoid,Tetraterpene Derivatives,Tetraterpenes,Carotene,Derivatives, Tetraterpene
D002471	Cell Transformation, Neoplastic	Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill.	Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001205	Ascorbic Acid	A six carbon compound related to glucose. It is found naturally in citrus fruits and many vegetables. Ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient in human diets, and necessary to maintain connective tissue and bone. Its biologically active form, vitamin C, functions as a reducing agent and coenzyme in several metabolic pathways. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant.	Vitamin C,Ascorbic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Ferrous Ascorbate,Hybrin,L-Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium Ascorbate,Magnesium Ascorbicum,Magnesium di-L-Ascorbate,Magnorbin,Sodium Ascorbate,Acid, Ascorbic,Acid, L-Ascorbic,Ascorbate, Ferrous,Ascorbate, Magnesium,Ascorbate, Sodium,L Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium di L Ascorbate,di-L-Ascorbate, Magnesium
D014801	Vitamin A	Retinol and derivatives of retinol that play an essential role in metabolic functioning of the retina, the growth of and differentiation of epithelial tissue, the growth of bone, reproduction, and the immune response. Dietary vitamin A is derived from a variety of CAROTENOIDS found in plants. It is enriched in the liver, egg yolks, and the fat component of dairy products.	Retinol,11-cis-Retinol,3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2,4,6,8-nonatetraen-1-ol, (all-E)-Isomer,All-Trans-Retinol,Aquasol A,Vitamin A1,All Trans Retinol
D014810	Vitamin E	A generic descriptor for all TOCOPHEROLS and TOCOTRIENOLS that exhibit ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL activity. By virtue of the phenolic hydrogen on the 2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol nucleus, these compounds exhibit varying degree of antioxidant activity, depending on the site and number of methyl groups and the type of ISOPRENOIDS.
D016588	Anticarcinogenic Agents	Agents that reduce the frequency or rate of spontaneous or induced tumors independently of the mechanism involved.	Anti-Carcinogenic Agents,Anti-Carcinogenic Drugs,Anti-Carcinogenic Effect,Anti-Carcinogenic Effects,Anticarcinogenic Drugs,Anticarcinogenic Effect,Anticarcinogenic Effects,Anticarcinogens,Agents, Anti-Carcinogenic,Agents, Anticarcinogenic,Anti Carcinogenic Agents,Anti Carcinogenic Drugs,Anti Carcinogenic Effect,Anti Carcinogenic Effects,Drugs, Anti-Carcinogenic,Drugs, Anticarcinogenic,Effect, Anti-Carcinogenic,Effect, Anticarcinogenic,Effects, Anti-Carcinogenic,Effects, Anticarcinogenic
D019207	beta Carotene	A carotenoid that is a precursor of VITAMIN A. Beta carotene is administered to reduce the severity of photosensitivity reactions in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (PORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC).	Betacarotene,BellaCarotin,Carotaben,Max-Caro,Provatene,Solatene,Vetoron,beta-Carotene,Carotene, beta,Max Caro,MaxCaro