:Vitamin B12 May Be Effective Carrier Of Anticancer Drug Vitamin B12, an essential micronutrient, is required by tumors in increased concentrations compared with normal tissue. Joseph A. Bauer, Ph.D., and Daniel J. Lindler, M.D., Ph.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and their colleagues examined whether a vitamin B12 analogue could be used as a carrier molecule to direct a chemotherapy drug to tumor cells. The authors attached nitric oxide, which is toxic when internalized by cells, to vitamin B12. When mice bearing human tumors were treated with this compound, the tumors regressed. However, when the mice were treated with the nitric oxide-vitamin B12 analogue plus interferon ², which increases expression of the receptor that takes vitamin B12 into cells, the tumors were eradicated. The authors suggest that the vitamin B12 analogue inhibited tumor growth by inducing apoptosis, or cell death. The findings appear in the July 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.