Vitamin C suppresses growth of human melanoma cells

Seoul, South Korea - A new study suggests that vitamin C suppresses proliferation of human melanoma cells, Foodconsumer.org reports.

The study, conducted by researchers from Seoul National University College of Medicine, showed that vitamin C suppressed proliferation or growth of the human melanoma cells through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) expression and the modulation of insulin-like growth factor II production.

The researchers found 1.0 mM vitamin C inhibits growth of the cancer cells SK-MEL-2 without inducing apoptosis. At that level of vitamin C, IF-II production decreased and cox-2 activity was stopped.

The study appears in the July issue of the Journal of Cell Physiology.