In Vivo and In Vitro Anti-tumor Effect of a Unique Nutrient Mixture on Lung Cancer Cell Line A-549

M.W. Roomi, V. Ivanov, T. Kalinovsky, A. Niedzwiecki, M. Rath

Experimental Lung Research 2006, 32(9):441-453

We tested the efficacy of a combination of micronutrients that included vitamin C, the amino acids lysine and proline, green tea extract (EGCG) and other micronutrients in lung cancer cells using in vivo and in vitro approaches.

The study used immuno-compromised mice and showed that dietary intake of this micronutrient mixture significantly suppressed the growth of lung tumors. The weight of tumors in the supplemental group was 44% lower than in the test group of mice, and the size of the tumors was 47% smaller.

In addition, we evaluated whether this nutrient mixture can affect the secretion of specific enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases or MMPs) that lung cancer cells need in order to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize. We showed that relatively low concentrations of these micronutrients were effective in achieving a complete inhibition of MMPs secretion by lung cancer cells and in halting their invasion. The results warrant further investigation of this micronutrient synergy approach as a safe and effective measure in lung cancer.