Eicosanoids and linoleate-enhanced growth of mouse mammary tumor cells

Conjugated linoleic acid reduction of murine mammary tumor cell growth through 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid that has been shown to reduce tumorigenesis and metastasis in breast, prostate and colon cancer in animals. However, the mechanism of its action has not been clarified. The goal of this study was to determine whether CLA altered mouse mammary tumor cell growth and whether specific metabolites of the lipoxygenase pathway were involved in CLA action. Both t10, c12-CLA and a lipoxygenase inhibitor, but not c9, t11-CLA or linoleic acid (LA), reduced mouse mammary tumor cell viability and growth by inducing apoptosis and reducing cell proliferation. t10, c12-CLA reduced the production of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE). That effect was not seen with c9, t11-CLA or LA. Adding 5-HETE back to tumor cells reduced the t10, c12-CLA effect on both apoptosis and cell proliferation. These data suggest that t10, c12-CLA reduction of tumor cell growth may involve the suppression of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite, 5-HETE, with subsequent effects on apoptosis and cell proliferation.

Effects of dietary fish oil on fatty acids and eicosanoids in metastasizing human breast cancer cells

We examined the relationships between the suppressive effects of dietary fish oil on growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells in female nude mice and the primary tumor phospholipid fatty acid concentrations, phospholipase A2 activity, and eicosanoid levels. Mice (n = 120) were fed a 23% (wt/wt) corn oil (CO) linoleic acid (LA)-rich diet for seven days before and after 10(6) tumor cells were injected into a mammary fat pad, and then the mice receive one of three isocaloric diets containing 23% total fat but different proportions of CO and menhaden oil (MO) (18% CO-5% MO, 11.5% CO-11.5% MO, 5% CO-18% MO) or a 23% fat diet containing 18% deodorized fish oil supplemented with tocopherol and tert-butylhydroquinone antioxidants (FAO). Primary tumor growth rate was significantly greater in mice fed the 18% CO diet than in the three diets containing higher levels of fish oil (all p < 0.05). The 18% MO diet, but not the 11.5% MO or the 18% FAO diet, suppressed the development of lung metastases compared with the 18% CO diet. Increasing the proportion of MO relative to CO in the diets produced corresponding increases in the primary tumor phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations and reductions in LA and arachidonic acid. There was a significant positive correlation between the LA concentration in these tumors and the extent of lung metastasis (r = 0.504). Tumor phospholipase A2 activity was unaffected by dietary MO intake. Prostaglandin E2 concentration was inversely correlated with phospholipid EPA (r = -0.484) and DHA (r = -0.439), but there was no relationship with lung metastasis. Tumor leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid levels were not reduced by dietary MO. The 18% FAO- and the 18% MO-fed mice showed similar relationships for the phospholipid fatty acids and prostaglandin E2, despite the lack of effect on metastasis. The strong correlation between phospholipid LA levels and metastasis and the lack of an association with tumor eicosanoids suggest that the 18% MO diet inhibited metastasis because dietary LA was replaced by other fatty acids.

Long-chain n-3-to-n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios in breast adipose tissue from women with and without breast cancer

Animal studies suggest that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the n-6 class, found in corn and safflower oils, may be precursors of intermediates involved in the development of mammary tumors, whereas long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFAs, found in fish oil, can inhibit these effects. This case-control study was designed to examine the relationship between the PUFA composition of breast adipose tissue and the risk of breast cancer. Using fatty acid levels in breast adipose tissue as a biomarker of past qualitative dietary intake of fatty acids, we examined the hypothesis that breast cancer risk is negatively associated with specific LC n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) and positively associated with n-6 PUFAs (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid). Breast adipose tissue was collected from 73 breast cancer patients and 74 controls with macromastia. The fatty acid levels were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. A logistic regression model was used to obtain odds ratio estimates while adjusting for age. The age-adjusted n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid) content was significantly higher in cases than in controls (P = 0.02). There was a trend in the age-adjusted data suggesting that, at a given level of n-6 PUFA, LC n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) may have a protective effect (P = 0.06). A similar inverse relationship was observed with LC n-3-to-n-6 ratio when the data were adjusted for age (P = 0.09). We conclude that total n-6 PUFAs may be contributing to the high risk of breast cancer in the United States and that LC n-3 PUFAs, derived from fish oils, may have a protective effect.

Omega-3 fatty acids to augment cancer therapy

The results of animal studies have demonstrated that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can slow the growth of cancer xenografts, increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and reduce the side effects of the chemotherapy or of the cancer. Molecular mechanisms postulated to contribute to the multiple benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include 1) suppressing the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in tumors, thus decreasing proliferation of cancer cells and reducing angiogenesis in the tumor; 2) decreasing the expression of AP-1 and ras, two oncogenes implicated in tumor promotion; 3) inducing differentiation of cancer cells; 4) suppressing nuclear factor-kappaB activation and bcl-2 expression, thus allowing apoptosis of cancer cells; and 5) reducing cancer-induced cachexia. It seems reasonable to assume that after appropriate cancer therapy, consumption of omega-3 fatty acids might slow or stop the growth of metastatic cancer cells, increase longevity of cancer patients and improve their quality of life.

Influences of a dietary fatty acid composition on the emergence of glutathione S-transferase-P (GST-P) positive foci in the liver of carcinogen-treated rats

The rats treated with a single i.p. injection of diethylnitrosoamine (DEN) and percial hepatectomy were fed for 11 weeks with a high fat diet mixed with 10% lard, eicosapentaenoic-acid-rich oil (EPA-oil) or arachidonic-acid-rich oil (AA-oil) and the emergence of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) in the liver was evaluated. There were no significant differences in the serum aminotransferase activities. The molar ratio of n-6 and n-3 fatty acid in the liver phospholipids was significantly low in the EPA-oil group compared with the other groups. In the EPA-oil group, the area percent and the unit area of GST-P positive foci were significantly smaller than the other groups. In the AA-oil group, no significant differences were recognized in the quantitative values for GST-P positive foci compared with the control and lard groups. In conclusion, a hepatic neoplasmic lesion induced by DEN was suppressed with EPA-rich fish oil, and arachidonic-acid-rich oil showed no effect of suppression or acceleration.

Metabolic responses to tumour disease and progression: tumour-host interaction

The progressive nutritional deterioration frequently found in cancer patients, is often referred to as cancer cachexia. In contrast to starvation, where it is possible to reverse the body composition changes by the provision of extra calories, in cancer cachexia this reversal is not observed, suggesting that anorexia alone is unlikely to be responsible for this wasting syndrome. Over the past decades a number of studies have focused on the possible mediators which may be responsible for metabolic abnormalities observed in cancer patients. Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been strongly implicated, but evidence supporting such a direct role is lacking. Recently, exciting work regarding molecules produced by tumour cells, and which may induce lipolysis and proteolysis, has been published. There is also evidence that increased metabolism of host resources may provide substrates which might promote tumour growth. A number of studies have demonstrated that polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and arachidonic acid, are able to promote tumour cell growth either by directly stimulating mitosis or by inhibiting apoptosis. Even more interesting is the discovery of antagonists of these catabolic factors such as eicosapentanoic acid for the lipolytic factor, which may play a role in the treatment of these patients in the near future.

Arachidonic acid metabolism: a primer for head and neck surgeons

The arachidonic acid metabolites, or eicosanoids, are a large series of lipid-derived mediators capable of producing a multitude of physiologic effects in the local environment. They play important roles in a variety of signaling pathways in endocrinology, immunology, and oncology. A significant body of work in this area has occurred in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck over the past 15 years. This review will attempt to familiarize the head and neck surgical oncologist with the basic biochemical steps in the formation of these compounds, newer developments in the field of eicosanoid biochemistry, and related experimental evidence of the roles of these substances in head and neck cancer.

Inhibitory effects of nabumetone, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and esculetin, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats

We investigated the modifying effects of nabumetone, a relatively selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and esculetin, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea(MNU)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 124 rats, 6 weeks old, were divided into 6 groups. At 50 days of age, groups 1, 2, and 3 were treated with MNU (50 mg/kg body weight) by subcutaneous injection. From the age of 8 weeks, groups 2 and 4 were given 0.03% nabumetone in the diet and groups 3 and 5 were given 0.03% esculetin in the diet. All rats were necropsied at the termination (25 weeks after the start of experiment). The incidence and multiplicity of neoplasms in group 2 were significantly smaller than those in group 1 (P < 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively). The incidence of neoplasms in group 3 was also significantly smaller than that in group 1 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the intake of nabumetone or esculetin during the time corresponding to the post initiation phase has a chemopreventive effect on MNU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.

Fatty acids and breast cancer cell proliferation

We and others have shown that fatty acids are important regulators of breast cancer cell proliferation. In particular individual fatty acids specifically alter EGF-induced cell proliferation in very different ways. This regulation is mediated by an EGFR/G-protein signaling pathway. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of how this signaling pathway functions and how fatty acids regulate it will provide important information on the cellular and molecular basis for the association of dietary fat and cancer. Furthermore these in vitro studies may explain data previously obtained from in vivo animal studies and identify "good" as well as "bad" fatty acids with respect to the development of cancer.

Increased 12-lipoxygenase expression in breast cancer tissues and cells. Regulation by epidermal growth factor

The interaction of growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) with their receptors, on breast cancer cells can lead to the hydrolysis of phospholipids and release of fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, which can be further metabolized by the lipoxygenase (LO) pathway. Several LO products have been shown to stimulate oncogenes and have mitogenic and chemotactic effects. In this study, we have evaluated the regulation of 12-LO activity and expression in breast cancer cells and tissues. Leukocyte-type 12-LO messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was studied by a specific RT-PCR method in matched, normal, uninvolved and cancer-involved breast tissue RNA samples from six patients. In each of these six patients, the cancer-involved section showed a much higher level of 12-LO mRNA than the corresponding normal section. 12-LO mRNA levels also were greater in two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and COH-BR1, compared with the nontumorigenic breast epithelial cell line, MCF-10F. The growth of the MCF-7 cells was significantly inhibited by two specific LO blockers but not by a cyclooxygenase blocker. Treatment of serum-starved MCF-7 cells with EGF for 4 h led to a dose-dependent increase in the formation of the 12-LO product, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. EGF treatment also increased the levels of the leukocyte-type 12-LO protein expression at 24 h. These results suggest that activation of the 12-LO pathway may play a key role in basal and EGF-induced breast cancer cell growth.

Dietary Fat, Fatty Acids and Breast Cancer

Results from some, but not all, epidemiological studies, and experimental investigations using animal models indicate that the level of fat in the diet, and more importantly the nature of the constituent fatty acids, influence both breast cancer risk and the progression of the established disease. High-fat diets rich in polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids stimulate mammary carcinogenesis and tumor progression; the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids present at high concentration in some fish oils exert inhibitory effects. Prominent among the biochemical mechanisms involved is the regulation of eicosanoid biosynthesis from dietary linoleic acid; both prostaglandins resulting from cyclooxygenase activity, and the leukotrienes and hydroxy-fatty acids produced under the influence of the lipoxygenases are involved in mammary carcinogenesis, tumor cell growth and apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. A shift towards the typical high-fat Western diet, rich in omega-6 and poor in omega-3 fatty acids, may be a major factor in the increasing breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Japanese women. Moreover, the results of the preclinical studies, together with supporting epidemiological data, suggest that a nutritional intervention comprising dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and, in populations consuming a high fat diet a reduction in total fat and omega-6 fatty acid intake, may have a place not only in breast caner prevention, but as an adjunct to the surgical treatment of the breast cancer patient.

Mechanism of the anti-tumour effect of 2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(3-pyridylmethyl) 1,4-benzoquinone (CV-6504)

2,3,5-Trimethyl-6-(3-pyridylmethyl) 1,4-benzoquinone (CV-6504), an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, effectively suppressed growth of the MAC16 tumour in vivo and prevented the accompanying cachexia, when administered daily at a dose of 10 mg kg(-1). There was a reduction in the tumour concentration of linoleic (LA), arachidonic (AA), oleic, stearic and palmitic acid. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the anti-tumour action, the effect of CV-6504 on the metabolism of AA through the 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenase pathways has been determined in cell lines sensitive (MAC16, MAC13, MAC26 and Caco-2) and resistant (A549 and DU-145) to CV-6504. Incubation of all cell lines with [3H]AA led to the appearance of [3H]5-, 12- and 15-HETE. Preincubation of MAC16, MAC13, MAC26 and Caco-2 with 10 microM CV-6504 inhibited the conversion of AA to 5-, 12- and 15-HETE, while in A549 and DU-145 cells there was no effect on metabolism through any lipoxygenase pathway. Two other cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and PC-3, sensitive to growth inhibition by CV-6504, are known to require LA for growth, while DU-145, which was insensitive to growth inhibition by CV-6504, showed no growth response to LA. These results suggest that some tumours are dependent on lipoxygenase metabolites of LA and AA for their continual growth, and interference with this pathway produces a specific growth inhibition.

The 12-lipoxygenase gene-transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line exhibits estrogen-independent, but estrogen and omega-6 fatty acid-stimulated proliferation in vitro, and enhanced growth in athymic nude mice

The estrogen-dependent, linoleic acid (LA)-unresponsive, MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was transfected with 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) cDNA (MCF-7/12-LOX cells). The transfectant stably expressed high levels of 12-LOX mRNA and protein, and secreted large quantities of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid when cultured with arachidonate. The transfectant grew in vitro in the absence of estrogen, and its growth was stimulated by LA. The MCF-7/12-LOX cells formed small solid tumors when injected into the mammary fat pads of ovariectomized nude mice. Despite this estrogen independence, MCF-7/12-LOX cell growth was stimulated further by estradiol both in vitro and in vivo, and to a greater extent than parental MCF-7 cells.

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of the anti-tumour agent 2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(3-pyridylmethyl)1,4-benzoquinone (CV-6504)

2,3,5-Trimethyl-6-(3-pyridylmethyl)1,4-benzoquinone (CV-6504) is an effective inhibitor of the growth of established murine adenocarcinomas (MACs) and is shortly to enter clinical investigation. When administered to mice bearing the MAC16 tumour, CV-6504 rapidly disappeared from the plasma and tissues and there was an accumulation of the sulphate and glucuronide metabolites. After 24 h, the concentration of free CV-6504 in the tumour (3.3 microM) was higher than that in the liver (0.24 microM) and equal to the IC50 value for the inhibition of the growth of MAC16 cells in vitro (3 microM). The concentration of glucuronide and sulphate metabolites in both tumour and liver decreased with time. Both the MAC16 tumour and the liver possessed similar beta-glucuronidase activity, which could account for the accumulation of free CV-6504. Although the sulphate and glucuronide conjugates of CV-6504 were ineffective inhibitors of the growth of MAC13 cells in vitro at concentrations up to 100 microM, in vivo at a concentration of 50 mg kg-1 day-1 the conjugates produced a similar anti-tumour effect to CV-6504 at a concentration of 5 mg kg-1 day-1. The MAC13 tumour possessed both beta-glucuronidase and sulphatase activity capable of converting the sulphate and glucuronide conjugates to free CV-6504. Using MAC13 cells ex vivo, CV-6504 inhibited conversion of arachidonic acid to 5-, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE). The percentage reduction in formation of 12- and 15-HETE exceeded that of 5-HETE. Inhibition of HETE formation may be responsible for the anti-tumour activity of CV-6504.

Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells exposed to eicosapentaenoic acid in vitro

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of several pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. This study investigates the mechanism of growth inhibition and cytotoxicity of EPA on the pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2. Cells were analysed for cell count, viability, cell cycle distribution and ultrastructural changes. There was a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cell count and viability in cultures of pancreatic cancer cells supplemented with EPA. Flow cytometric DNA analysis of MIA PaCa-2 cells incubated with EPA demonstrated the presence of sub G1 populations corresponding to the presence of apoptotic cells and the blockade of cell cycle progression in S-phase and G2/M-phase. The presence of apoptosis in EPA-supplemented cultures was further confirmed by DNA fragmentation and ultrastructural changes associated with apoptosis. Therefore, we conclude that EPA mediates its effect on the pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2, at least in part, via cell cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis.

In vitro effects of eicosanoid synthesis inhibitors in the presence of linoleic acid on MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

We investigated the effects of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors in the presence of linoleic acid (LA), as well as the direct effects of prostaglandin E (PGE) and leukotriene B (LTB) on a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) in vitro. Piroxicam, esculetin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) suppressed cell growth and thymidine incorporation. However, a low concentration (1 microgram/ml) of indomethacin (INDO) stimulated cell growth and thymidine incorporation, while a high concentration of INDO (30 micrograms/ml) inhibited both. Esculetin and NDGA reduced the secretion of LTB, whereas piroxicam reduced the secretion of PGE. INDO reduced the secretion of PGE, but a low concentration of INDO increased the secretion of LTB. Consequently, cell growth was correlated with the PGE and/or LTB concentrations when the cells were treated with these cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors. On the other hand, exogenous PGE2 partially reversed the inhibition of thymidine incorporation caused by INDO, whereas LTB4 exerted a similar effect in the case of esculetin or NDGA. The reversibility of the piroxicam effect with PGE2 is not convincing. Therefore, it is suggested that the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro is affected by both the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products, probably the other eicosanoids rather than PGE2 and LTB4.

Dietary linoleic acid-stimulated human breast cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice and their suppression by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Growth and metastasis to the lung of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435 in nude mice fed a high-fat (20% wt/wt) high-linoleic acid (LA; 12% wt/wt) diet were significantly reduced by the addition of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin to the drinking water at a dose of 10 micrograms/ml (approximately 1 mg/kg body wt). No toxicity was observed in these mice; at 20 micrograms/ml indomethacin, gastric ulcerations occurred. After necropsy, tumor eicosanoids were measured by radioimmunoassay in the control and 10 micrograms/ml indomethacin treatment groups. Levels of the cyclooxygenase products prostaglandin (PG) E (PGE), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) were significantly reduced in indomethacin-treated mice compared with controls; however, the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha-to-TxB2 ratio was significantly increased. Two lipoxygenase products, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and 15-HETE, were unaffected, but the 12-HETE levels were increased compared with the untreated high-LA-fed group. Metastases to the lungs in mice fed a high-fat low-LA (2% wt/wt) diet were also reduced compared with those in the high-LA-fed control mice, but whereas tumor cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase product levels were reduced, no change in the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha-to-TxB2 ratio was observed. The use of selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors may prevent LA-mediated progression of breast cancer at several levels of the metastatic cascade, among which may be interference with tumor cell-vascular endothelial cell interaction and with angiogenesis.

Effects of piroxicam and esculetin on the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line

We investigated the effects of piroxicam, esculetin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Both piroxicam and esculetin suppressed cell growth and thymidine incorporation, though esculetin was more active in inhibiting cell growth in the presence of linoleic acid (LA). Esculetin reduced the secretion of LTB independent of LA. Piroxicam reduced the secretion of PGE in the absence of LA but only at higher concentrations in the presence of LA. When the relationship between cell growth and PGE and LTB concentration was evaluated by multivariate regression analysis, cell growth was associated with the PGE and LTB concentration when the cells were treated with esculetin alone or with esculetin and LA. Cell growth was associated only with the PGE concentration when they were treated with piroxicam alone or with piroxicam and LA. Therefore, it appears that the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro is affected by both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products, though lipoxygenase inhibition is more active than cyclooxygenase inhibition on suppression of cell growth in the presence of LA.

Effects of indomethacin with or without linoleic acid on human breast cancer cells in vitro

The effect of indomethacin (INDO) with or without the addition of linoleic acid (LA) was investigated in a cultured MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. It was found that INDO without LA suppressed cell growth and thymidine incorporation; however, with the addition of LA, INDO at low concentration promoted these factors, whereas INDO at higher concentrations suppressed them. On the other hand, INDO with or without the addition of LA reduced the secretion of prostaglandin E (PGE). However, INDO at a low concentration (1 microgram/ml) with the addition of LA increased the secretion of leukotriene B (LTB), while INDO without LA had no effect on the secretion of LTB. When the relationship between cell growth and PGE or LTB concentration was investigated, cell growth was associated with the PGE and LTB concentrations when the cells were treated with INDO and LA, whereas it was associated only with the PGE and LTB concentrations when the cells were treated with INDO and LA, whereas it was associated with the PGE concentration when they were treated with INDO alone.

Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the growth of murine colon adenocarcinomas in vitro and in vivo

The effect of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on the growth of two murine colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (MAC26 and MAC13) has been determined both in vitro and in vivo. When the serum concentrations in the medium became growth limiting, low concentrations (18-33 microM) of both PUFAs were growth stimulatory to both cell lines, while higher concentrations were growth inhibitory. Growth stimulation by AA in both cell lines, and by LA in MAC13, was effectively inhibited by both the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, and the lipoxygenase inhibitor BWA4C in a dose-dependent manner. The most effective inhibition was exerted by BWA4C, suggesting metabolism of both PUFAs through the lipoxygenase pathway for growth stimulation. In vivo studies using the MAC26 tumour showed a significant stimulation of tumour growth when LA was administered orally at concentrations higher than 0.4 g kg-1 day-1. Higher concentrations did not produce a further increase in tumour growth rate. This suggests that there is a threshold dose for growth stimulation by LA which, together with that in the diet, amounted to 3.8% of the total caloric intake. The increase in tumour volume induced by LA arose from a reduction in the potential doubling time from 41 to 28 h and was effectively reversed by indomethacin (5 mg kg-1). These results suggest that PUFAs may play an important role in tumour growth and may offer a potential target for the development of chemotherapeutic agents.

Dietary fatty acids and breast cancer invasion and metastasis

This review presents the evidence for the hypothesis that dietary linoleic acid and its metabolic derivative arachidonic acid enhance the metastatic process in breast cancer. Key biochemical events are eicosanoid biosynthesis and protein kinase C activation, both of which are involved in tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis. It is concluded that the utilization of appropriate dietary interventions and pharmacological inhibitors offers a promising approach to suppress metastasis.

Mechanism of lipid mobilization associated with cancer cachexia: interaction between the polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and inhibitory guanine nucleotide-regulatory protein

During a study of the mechanism of cancer cachexia, a debilitating condition in which catabolism of host muscle and adipose tissue occurs, it has been observed that the process can be effectively reversed in vivo by the polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but not by other PUFA of either the n-3 or n-6 series. In vitro studies showed that EPA blocked the action of a tumour-produced catabolic factor at the level of the adipocyte, and that the effect of EPA also extended to beta-adrenergic stimuli and polypeptide hormones. Again the effect was specific to EPA and appeared to arise from an inhibition of the elevation of cyclic AMP levels in adipocytes in response to varied stimuli. Using isoprenaline stimulated lipolysis as a model system we have shown that EPA has a direct inhibitory effect on isoprenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase in isolated plasma membrane fractions with half maximal inhibition at a concentration of 165 microM. The inhibitory effect was specific for EPA and was not shown by docosahexaenoic or arachidonic acids. The inhibitory effect of EPA on adenylate cyclase showed properties similar to hormonal inhibition of the enzyme in that it was (i) GTP-dependent, (ii) non-competitive with isoprenaline, (iii) eliminated following treatment of either adipocytes or plasma membrane fractions with pertussis toxin, which is known to ADP-ribosylate the alpha-subunit of an inhibitory guanine nucleotide-regulatory protein (Gi), thus leading to its inactivation. This suggests that inhibition of cyclic AMP formation by EPA was due, at least in part, to a Gi-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)