Stimulating effect of ascorbic acid on ascites tumor cell multiplication in vitro.

In a preceding report evidence has been presented that ascorbic acid (AA) accelerated solid tumor growth obtained by inoculating tumor ascites cells into the subcutaneous dorsal region of inbred Balb/cf/Had/Se substrain mice. The present work investigates whether this effect is the result of a direct action of AA on neoplastic cell multiplication or of an indirect action on the tumor cells mediated by changes induced by AA in the organism bearing the tumor. The results obtained demonstrate that AA at low doses (microgram 10-30/ml) stimulates ascites tumor cell multiplication in vitro, while at high doses (microgram 60-120/ml) the opposite occurs. These results suggest that the major growth of solid tumors observed in mice treated with AA may be attribute to the capacity of this substance to favor the multiplication of ATP cells which were used to induce the tumors.