Acknowledgments
Special Thanks to the Following:
NUTGAP coordinated by Dr. Gerardo Mackenzie and Dr. Diane Beckles, Dr. Carole Hom, Bryshal Moore, Rosa Fragello, all presenters/faculty & staff of UC Davis and allied outreach, & UC Davis Nutritional Biology Department
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Outline of The Role of Ascorbic Acid on Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Introduction
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma(HL) is a blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system
Tumors are mainly characterized by formation of Reed-Sternberg cells (H-RS)
HL has hyperactivation of the NF-kB pathway, which H-RS cells depend on for growth and survival
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) acts as a antioxidant, yet in highdoses reached by IV, can act as a prooxidant which selectively kills cancer cells
Objectives
To investigate mechanisms describing how Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) kills Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
To visualize growth suppression & apoptosis (cell death)
Methodology
Cell Culture/Stock
Cell Proliferation
Immunohistochemistry
Antibody Probing
Cell Viability Assays
Image J Quantification
Results
Fig 2. Immunohistochemistry staining for PCNA and Bcl-xL were performed in L540 xenograft sections. Photographs were taken at 20x magnification )Below). Results were expressed as percent of PCNA+, and Bcl-xL+ area (mean ± SD) per 20x field.
Fig 1.Tumor Growth progression following treatment with Ascorbic Acid (AA)
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Fig 2. Images of Xenograft staining sections up close for PCNA and Bcl-xL
PCNA (+)
PCNA (-)
Bcl-xL (+)
Bcl-xL (-)
Conclusions
Tumor growth was inhibited when treated with ascorbic acid by a rate of 59%
Bcl-xL percent area showed no significant difference in staining when compared to control group
PCNA percent area showed no significant reduction in comparison to control group
L540 cells were revived, but were not viable for future experiments
Future Research
Determine the efficacy of Ascorbic Acid when combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs
Test if Curcumin (a tumeric bioactive) can effectively be combined with Ascorbic acid
Test Curcumin + Ascorbic Acid
Evaluate detailed mechanisms of action using HL L540 cells (using Western Blot)
References
1. Böttger F, Vallés-Martí A, Cahn L, Jimenez CR. High-dose intravenous vitamin C, a promising multi-targeting agent in the treatment of cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Oct 30;40(1):343. doi: 10.1186/s13046-021-02134-y. PMID: 34717701; PMCID: PMC8557029.
2. Guorgui J, Wang R, Mattheolabakis G, Mackenzie GG. Curcumin formulated in solid lipid nanoparticles has enhanced efficacy in Hodgkin's lymphoma in mice. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2018 Jun 15;648:12-19. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.04.012. Epub 2018 Apr 18. PMID: 29679536.
3. Mackenzie GG, Queisser N, Wolfson ML, Fraga CG, Adamo AM, Oteiza PI. Curcumin induces cell-arrest and apoptosis in association with the inhibition of constitutively active NF-kappaB and STAT3 pathways in Hodgkin's lymphoma cells. Int J Cancer. 2008 Jul 1;123(1):56-65. doi: 10.1002/ijc.23477. PMID: 18386790.
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