The Activity of Vitamin C Against Ovarian Cancer Cells Is Enhanced by Hyperthermia

Background/Aim: Vitamin C is essential for the proper functioning of the human body and plays a crucial role in many biological processes as a cofactor for enzymes. The anticancer activity of vitamin C has been indicated for years. Hyperthermia used in clinics allows increasing the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and may also be useful in enhancing the action of other substances. The purpose of this study was to enhance the anticancer activity of vitamin C through hyperthermia against ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The ovarian cancer cell lines Caov-3, NIH:OVCAR-3, and human fibroblasts CCD-1064Sk were tested in the present study. Vitamin C was used in the following concentrations: 0.24, 2.50 and 5.25 mM. Each of the selected concentrations was combined with the different temperatures (37 degrees C, 40 degrees C and 43 degrees C). Cell survival, adhesion and changes at the molecular level were assessed. Results: The obtained results revealed that hyperthermia enhances the anticancer activity of vitamin C. Ovarian cancer cells showed greater sensitivity to vitamin C at elevated temperatures. Cells may have different sensitivity to vitamin C due to the activation of different gene signatures associated with redox reactions and apoptosis, therefore we examined the following genes: BCAP31, BCL2L13, BID, CASP7, FADD and HTRA2. The increase in expression of these genes in cancer cells generated a stronger proapoptotic response. Conclusion: The present study showed that hyperthermia enhanced the anticancer activity of vitamin C in vitro.