Enhancement of mitomycin C efficiency by vitamin C, E-acetate and beta-carotene under irradiation. A study in vitro.

Using E.coli bacteria (AB 1157) and leukemia cells (HL 60) as a model for in vitro studies it was established that the efficiency of mitomycin C (MMC) can be influenced in the presence of antioxidant vitamins. This synergistic effect of the vitamins C, E-acetate and beta-carotene on MMC activity is rather strong for E.coli bacteria under irradiation (15 and 50 Gy) in the presence of air. Vitamin C contributes more efficiently to the MMC-activity in leukemia cells than the other two vitamins. The effect is explained by a cascade electron transfer process from the vitamins to MMC, where vitamin C is acting as a major electron source. These results might be of importance in cancer therapy.