Asymmetric dimethylarginine in experimental breast cancer; action of Vitamin C and E

To investigate the arginase-nitric oxide synthase paradox through asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide levels, and to see the effect of antioxidant vitamins on this mechanism of cancer action.

The animal-based study was conducted at Trakya University, Turkey, in 2008, and comprised mice that were divided into five equal groups. Group 1 had healthy controls, while in the other four groups breast cancer was induced. Group 2 received saline solution, group 3 received 200 mg/kg/day vitamin C (tumour +vit C), group 4 received 300 mg/kg/day vitamin E (tumour +vitE) and group 5 received both 200 mg/kg/day vitamin C and 300 mg/kg/day vitamin E (tumour +vit C+vit E) for 15 days intra-peritoneally.Arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide levels were determined in each group.

The 50 mice in the study were divided into five groups of 10(20%) each. Plasma arginine levels were significantly decreased, asymmetric dimethylarginine and symmetric dimethylarginine levels were increased, while plasma nitric oxide level was significantly decreased in group 2. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment groups for all parameters (p>0.05 each).

Understanding of the mechanism may help to develop new anti-cancer agents.