A combination of vitamin C and vitamin K3 appears to destroy prostate cancer cells, a discovery that could lead to new anti-cancer therapies, according to Pennsylvania researchers. Dr. Jacques Gilloteaux of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania, and colleagues administered doses of a vitamin C/vitamin K3 combination to mice that had tumors composed of human prostate cancer cells. The vitamins were administered to the animals either orally, by injection or both. Gilloteaux told Reuters Health that all three groups of treated mice survived longer than untreated mice (about 70 versus 60 days, respectively). Furthermore, 25% of mice treated via mouth survived long-term, compared with 12% of the animals treated via injection and none of the untreated animals. These results suggest that the vitamin therapy is more effective when administered in pill form, the researchers say. Examined in the laboratory, prostate cancer cells killed by the therapy showed evidence of a newly discovered type of programmed cell death, which the researchers call ''autoschizis.'' The changes observed as these cells died ''contrast sharply'' with those usually seen in degenerating cells, Gilloteaux said. Programmed cell death is a normal process in which the body eliminates damaged or unneeded cells through a specific sequence of events. Cancer occurs when abnormal cell lose their control mechanisms and proliferate. In the interview with Reuters Health, Gilloteaux described three breast cancer patients and one prostate cancer patient who survived long-term after treatment with the vitamin C/vitamin K3 combination. The Pennsylvania researcher says the therapy will soon be tested in clinical trials as a secondary treatment for various cancers, including bladder, breast, and prostate tumors. Previous work has suggested that the vitamin C/vitamin K3 mix might be especially useful when combined with radiation therapy, he added. December 28, 2000 Reuters Health 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.