The immunological role of carotenoids in the prevention of cancer
Tomita, Y.; Fukuda, K.; Hirohata, T.
Gan no Rinsho. Japan Journal of Cancer Clinics 32(6): 643-651
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4949 PMID: 3489110 Document Number: 280506
Epidemiological studies have suggested that the intake of green-yellow vegetables decrease the risk of cancer. Vitamin A, which is abundantly present in green-yellow vegetables in the form of provitamin A, was demonstrated to inhibit chemical and viral-carcinogenesis in experimental animals. However, little is known about the mechanism of anti-carcinogenic effect of vitamin A. Our data seem to support a hypothesis that vitamin A may contribute to the prevention of cancer by augmenting an immunosurveillance system. We found that vitamin A and provitamin A, beta-carotene, enhanced tumor immunity using a syngeneic murine tumor system.