EFFECTS OF SODIUM ASCORBATE (VITAMIN-C) AND 2-METHYL-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE (VITAMIN-K3) TREATMENT ON HUMAN TUMOR-CELL GROWTH-INVITRO .2. SYNERGISM WITH COMBINED CHEMOTHERAPY ACTION

The growth inhibitory effects of a combined application of sodium asco rbate (Vitamin C) and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (Vitamin K3) togethe r with various chemotherapeutic agents has been examined on in vitro c ultured human endometrial adenocarcinoma (AN3CA) cells. Combined vitam in treatment and chemotherapy in well defined conditions of cell confl uence and at the dose levels applied result in a synergistic effect on growth inhibition. The combined vitamins when reaching their own syne rgistic cytotoxicity levels frequently obscure the additional synergis tic effects attributable to the chemotherapeutic agents. Apart from th e specific cytotoxic characteristics of the chemotherapeutic drugs exa mined, the formation of reactive oxygen radicals during treatment, pos sibly accentuated by less defined secondary mechanisms, appears essent ially responsible for the observed stimulated cytotoxicity.