Cytostatica efficiency enhancement by vitamins C, E and b-carotene under irradiation. State of the art

A review is presented on the enhancement of MMC (mitomycin C) efficiency by the vitamins C, E and b-carotene using E. coli bacteria (AB 1157) and leukemia cells (HL 60) as a model for experiments in vitro. New and previously published spectroscopic and kinetic data of transients obtained by pulse radiolysis of MMC and the above mentioned vitamins were also discussed. Based on all these results a possible cascade electron transfer process from vit. C! vit. E!b-car.!MMC or oxidants in the living cells is presented. By vit. C deficiency a cell mutation might occur, possibly leading to appearance of cancer. The presented radiation chemical and radiation biological characteristic data are of importance as a basis for the development of an improved chemo-radiation therapy of cancer. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.