Salford University reveals Vitamin C is effective in targeting cancer stem cells
Researchers say it's up to ten times more effective than other known drugs.
Vitamin C is up to ten times more effective at stopping cancer cell growth than pharmaceuticals, according to scientists in Salford.
The research is the first evidence that Vitamin C can be used to target and kill cancer stem cells - the cells responsible for fuelling fatal tumours.
Dr Michael P. Lisanti, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Salford, said: “We have been looking at how to target cancer stem cells with a range of natural substances including silibinin (milk thistle) and CAPE, a honey-bee derivative, but by far the most exciting are the results with Vitamin C.
“Vitamin C is cheap, natural, non-toxic and readily available so to have it as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer would be a significant step.”
Cancer stem-like cells are thought to be the root cause of chemotherapy resistance, leading to treatment failure in patients with advanced disease and the triggers of tumour recurrence and regrowth.