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Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Author(s): Ghazala Butt, Ammad A. Farooqi*, Aima Adylova, Rukset Attar, Seher Yilmaz, Konysbayeva K. Konysbayevna, Uteuliyev Y. Sabitaliyevich, Maria L. Gasparri and Baojun Xu*

DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200710102841

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Vitamin C as an Anticancer Agent: Regulation of Signaling Pathways

Page: [1868 - 1875] Pages: 8

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Treatment options for effective treatment of cancer with minimum off-target effects and maximum clinical outcomes have remained overarching goals in the clinical oncology. Vitamin C has remained in the shadows of controversy since the past few decades; burgeoning evidence has started to shed light on wide-ranging anticancer effects exerted by Vitamin C to induce apoptosis in drug-resistant cancer cells, inhibit uncontrolled proliferation of the cancer cells and metastatic spread. Landmark achievements in molecular oncology have ushered in a new era, and researchers have focused on the identification of oncogenic pathways regulated by Vitamin C in different cancers. However, there are visible knowledge gaps in our understanding related to the ability of Vitamin C to modulate a myriad of transduction cascades. There are scattered pieces of scientific evidence about promising potential of Vitamin C to regulate JAK-STAT, TGF/SMAD, TRAIL and microRNAs in different cancers. However, published data is insufficient and needs to be investigated comprehensively to enable basic and clinical researchers to reap full benefits and promote result-oriented transition of Vitamin C into various phases of clinical trials. In this review, we will emphasize on available evidence related to the regulation of oncogenic cell signaling pathways by Vitamin C in different cancers. We will also highlight the conceptual gaps, which need detailed and cutting-edge research.

Keywords: Vitamin C, Anticancer, Signaling pathways, Protein network, Clinical trials, Clinical oncology.

Graphical Abstract

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