Vitamin C Increases the Level of Lactate Dehydrogenase in Rats ‘Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Since the discovery of vitamin C many studies have illustrated its characteristic effect as a tumor prevention agent. Conversely: the extracellular presence of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is associated with cell necrosis and tissue breakdown and is therefore considered as a tumor marker. In present study effects of vitamin C on the levels of oral LDH was estimated during the development of squamous oral carcinoma. Histological findings of study revealed changes in the oral tissue of the animals treated with dimethyl benzanthracene (DMBA) alone or DMBA associated with vitamin C such as moderate dysplasia associated with basal cell hyperplasia. Notably: differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma was observed in the rats belonging to group injected with DMBA after 6 weeks. Otherwise: anaplastic oral carcinoma was observed after 5 weeks in group treated with DMBA and vitamin C. High levels of LDH were detected throughout the induction of the squamous cell carcinoma phases in comparison to the anaplastic phase. These findings demonstrate that the injection of DMBA in association with vitamin C accelerates the induction of anaplastic carcinoma and that these changes are associated with increased LDH levels in the differentiated squamous carcinoma compared with the undifferentiated carcinomas.