The Radio-Sensitizing Effect of Pharmacological Concentration of Ascorbic Acid on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Background: Previous studies reported the inevitable destructive effects of radiotherapy on normal adjacent cells. Ascorbic Acid (AA) has been proposed as an effective anti-cancer agent with no obvious effects on normal cells. Objective: The effects of Ascorbic acid in combination with radiotherapy on human pancreatic carcinoma cell line were studied. Methods: The human pancreatic cancer cells were cultured and divided into four groups: control group (A) without any treatment, group B that received 2Gy radiotherapy alone, group C that was treated with 4mM AA alone, and group D that was co-treated with AA and radiotherapy. Cell viability, DNA fragmentation, expression of apoptotic genes, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production were determined in treated cells. Results: There was a noticeable decrease in cell viability after treatment with AA (and/or) radiotherapy. All treated groups showed elevated ROS production, Bax/Bcl2 expression, DNA fragmentation, and cytotoxycity compared with the control group. Cells under combination therapy showed the most cytotoxicity. Conclusion: The results suggest that AA at a dose of 4mmol/l may be used as an effective radio-sensitizing agent in pancreatic cancer cell line.