Cited by 100Epigenetics and DNA MethylationVitamin C and Antioxidants ResearchMicrobial metabolism and enzyme function

Vitamin C – A new player in regulation of the cancer epigenome

Gillberg, Linn, Ørskov, Andreas D., Liu, Minmin, Harsløf, Laurine B.S., Jones, Peter A., Grønbæk, Kirsten·2018·Seminars in Cancer Biology

Abstract

Over the past few years it has become clear that vitamin C, as a provider of reduced iron, is an essential factor for the function of epigenetic regulators that initiate the demethylation of DNA and histones. Vitamin C deficiency is rare in the general population, but is frequently observed in patients with cancer. Genes encoding epigenetic regulators are often mutated in cancer, underscoring their central roles in carcinogenesis. In hematological cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), drugs that reverse epigenetic aberrations are now the standard of care. Recent in vitro studies suggest that vitamin C at physiological concentrations, combined with hypomethylating agents may act synergistically to cause DNA demethylation through active and passive mechanisms, respectively. Additionally, several recent studies have renewed interest in the use of pharmacological doses of vitamin C injected intravenously to selectively kill tumor cells. This review will focus on the potential of vitamin C to optimize the outcome of epigenetic therapy in cancer patients and alternatively to act as a therapeutic at high doses.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.11.001

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  • TET2 is frequently deleted in myelodysplastic syndromes.

    “Because decitabine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, where TET2 is also frequently deleted108, it would be interesting to test these combinations in clinical trials.”

    From Targeting cancer vulnerabilities with high-dose vitamin C (2019) · cites this paper as [108]

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Authors
Gillberg, L., Ørskov, A. D., Liu, M., Harsløf, L. B. S., Jones, P. A., & Grønbæk, K.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Van Andel Institute (US)
  • Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Grønbæk, Kirsten
Venue
Seminars in Cancer Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-08
Volume
51
Pages
59-67
ISSN
1044-579X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2767120083
Cited by
100
References
146
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Seminars in Cancer Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Kræftens Bekæmpelse
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • Lundbeckfonden
  • Van Andel Research Institute
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden
  • National Institutes of Health (R35CA209858)
  • Entertainment Industry Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
Keywords
vitamin C, epigenetic regulation, DNA demethylation, histone demethylation, epigenetic therapy, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, hypomethylating agents, synergistic drug combination, high-dose intravenous vitamin C, cancer epigenome
MeSH terms
Animals, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Humans, Neoplasms, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Epigenomics

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