Serum Phospholipids Fatty Acids and Breast Cancer Risk by Pathological Subtype

Lipid profile in breast cancer: From signaling pathways to treatment strategies

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women. Metabolic abnormalities, particularly increased lipid synthesis and uptake, impact the onset and progression of the disease. However, the influence of lipid metabolism in breast cancer varies according to the disease stage and patient's hormone status. In postmenopausal patients, obesity is associated with a higher risk and poor prognosis of luminal tumors, while in premenopausal individuals, it is correlated to BRCA mutated tumors. In fact, the tumor's lipid profile may be used to distinguish between HER2+, luminal and BRCA-mutated tumors. Moreover, drug resistance was associated with increased fatty acid synthesis and alterations in membrane composition, impacting its fluidity and spatial subdomains such as lipid rafts. Here, we discuss the subtype-specific lipid metabolism alterations found in breast cancer and the potentiality of its modulation in a clinical setting.

Association between dietary intake of saturated fatty acid subgroups and breast cancer risk

The impact of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on breast cancer risk may vary depending on their carbon chain lengths, attributable to the discrepancy in their dietary sources and biological activities. The associations between SFA subgroups classified by chain length and breast cancer risk remain controversial. In this case-control study, we aimed to investigate the association between the dietary intake of SFA subgroups, classified by chain lengths, and odds of breast cancer in China. This study included 1661 cases of breast cancer (confirmed as primary and histologically) and 1674 frequency-matched controls. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect basic information, while dietary intake information was obtained by a food frequency questionnaire. The unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). All SFA subgroups were inversely associated with odds of breast cancer. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) were 0.78 (0.61-0.99) for medium-chain SFAs, 0.50 (0.31-0.83) for long even-chain SFAs, 0.69 (0.54-0.88) for long odd-chain, and 0.67 (0.48-0.95) for very long-chain SFAs, respectively. In the restricted cubic spline (RCS) models, a non-linear M-shaped association was observed between long odd-chain SFAs and odds of breast cancer (Pnon-linearity = 0.007). However, the associations of medium-chain SFAs, long even-chain SFAs, and very long-chain SFAs did not reach statistical significance (Pnon-linearity > 0.05). No significant interactions were observed between all these four subgroups of SFAs and menopausal status or BMI. Our findings emphasize the significance of elucidating the associations of dietary SFAs according to chain lengths, providing insights into the etiology as well as the potential benefits of SFA-rich food intake in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Further prospective cohort studies and intervention studies are warranted to confirm these findings and identify the underlying mechanisms of the association between dietary SFAs and breast cancer.

Metabolomic Profile of Arthrospira platensis from a Bulgarian Bioreactor-A Potential Opportunity for Inclusion in Dietary Supplements

The present study aims to elucidate the metabolomic profile of Arthrospira platensis grown in a bioreactor in Bulgaria. The results show that Arthrospira platensis has a high content of mannose, 137.02 mg g-1, and vitamin A (retinol)-10.3 μg/100 g. High concentrations of calcium, sulfur, and zinc distinguish its elemental composition. The freeze-dried powder contained 15.81 ± 0.45% dietary fiber, 50.16 ± 0.25% total protein content, and 1.22 ± 0.11% total fat content. Among the unsaturated fatty acids with the highest content is α-linolenic acid (25.28%), while among the saturated fatty acids, palmitic acid prevails (22.55%). Of the sterols in the sample, β-sitosterol predominated. There is no presence of microcystins LR, RR, YR, and nodularin. Therefore, Arthrospira platensis grown in a Bulgarian bioreactor is safe for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Many of the organic compounds found have applications in medicine and pharmacology and play an important role in biochemical processes in the body. Therefore, Arthrospira platensis grown in Bulgaria has a high potential for use as an independent food supplement or in combination with other natural products.

Erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFA are inversely associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese women

The relationship between erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFA and breast cancer risk is controversial. We aimed to examine the associations of erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFA with odds of breast cancer among Chinese women by using a relatively large sample size. A case-control study was conducted including 853 newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed breast cancer cases and 892 frequency-matched controls (5-year interval). Erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFA were measured by GC. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to quantify the association between erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFA and odds of breast cancer. Erythrocyte membrane α-linolenic acid (ALA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and total n-3 PUFA were inversely and non-linearly associated with odds of breast cancer. The OR values (95 % CI), comparing the highest with the lowest quartile (Q), were 0·57 (0·43, 0·76), 0·43 (0·32, 0·58) and 0·36 (0·27, 0·49) for ALA, DPA and total n-3 PUFA, respectively. Erythrocyte membrane EPA and DHA were linearly and inversely associated with odds of breast cancer ((EPA: ORQ4 v. Q1 (95 % CI) = 0·59 (0·45, 0·79); DHA: ORQ4 v. Q1 (95 % CI) = 0·50 (0·37, 0·67)). The inverse associations were observed between ALA and odds of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and between DHA and oestrogen receptor+ breast cancer. This study showed that erythrocyte membrane total and individual n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with odds of breast cancer. Other factors, such as menopause and hormone receptor status, may warrant further investigation when examining the association between n-3 PUFA and odds of breast cancer.

Consumption of olive oil and risk of breast cancer in U.S. women: results from the Nurses' Health Studies

BACKGROUND

Olive oil consumption may reduce breast cancer risk, but it is unclear whether olive oil is beneficial for breast cancer prevention in populations outside of Mediterranean regions, namely in the U.S., where the average consumption of olive oil is low compared with Mediterranean populations. We examined whether olive oil intake was associated with breast cancer risk in two prospective cohorts of U.S. women.

METHODS

We used multivariable-adjusted time-varying Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for breast cancer among 71,330 (Nurses' Health Study, 1990-2016) and 93,295 women (Nurses' Health Study II, 1991-2017) who were free of cancer at baseline. Diet was assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire every 4 years.

RESULTS

During 3,744,068 person-years of follow-up, 9,638 women developed invasive breast cancer. The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for breast cancer among women who had the highest consumption of olive oil (>1/2 tablespoon/d or >7 g/d) compared with those who never or rarely consumed olive oil, was 1.01 (0.93, 1.09). Higher olive oil consumption was not associated with any subtype of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

We did not observe an association between higher olive oil intake and breast cancer risk in two large prospective cohorts of U.S. women, whose average olive oil consumption was low. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to further investigate whether different varieties of olive oil (e.g., virgin and extra virgin olive oil) may play a role in breast cancer risk.

Aglianico Grape Seed Semi-Polar Extract Exerts Anticancer Effects by Modulating MDM2 Expression and Metabolic Pathways

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) seeds are rich in polyphenols including proanthocyanidins, molecules with a variety of biological effects including anticancer action. We have previously reported that the grape seed semi-polar extract of Aglianico cultivar (AGS) was able to induce apoptosis and decrease cancer properties in different mesothelioma cell lines. Concomitantly, this extract resulted in enriched oligomeric proanthocyanidins which might be involved in determining the anticancer activity. Through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we investigated in detail the anticancer pathway induced by AGS. Transcriptomics analysis and functional annotation allowed the identification of the relevant causative genes involved in the apoptotic induction following AGS treatment. Subsequent biological validation strengthened the hypothesis that MDM2 could be the molecular target of AGS and that it could act in both a p53-dependent and independent manner. Finally, AGS significantly inhibited tumor progression in a xenograft mouse model of mesothelioma, confirming also in vivo that MDM2 could act as molecular player responsible for the AGS antitumor effect. Our findings indicated that AGS, exerting a pro-apoptotic effect by hindering MDM2 pathway, could represent a novel source of anticancer molecules.

Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Compounds from Arthrospira platensis and Its Effects on Tissue and Blood Cells-An Overview

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) is a natural source of considerable amounts of ingredients that are relevant for nutra- and pharmaceutical uses. Different hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances can be obtained by extraction from the biomass. The respective extraction techniques determine the composition of substances in the extract and thus its biological activity. In this short review, we provide an overview of the hydrophilic compounds (phenols, phycobiliproteins, polysaccharides, and vitamins) and lipophilic ingredients (chlorophylls, vitamins, fatty acids, and glycolipids) of Arthrospira platensis. The principal influences of these substances on blood and tissue cells are briefly summarized.

SCD5-dependent inhibition of SPARC secretion hampers metastatic spreading and favors host immunity in a TNBC murine model

Dysregulated fatty acid metabolism interacts with oncogenic signals, thereby worsening tumor aggressiveness. The stearoyl-CoA desaturating enzymes, SCD1 and SCD5, convert of saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids. While SCD1 is frequently overexpressed in tumor cells and has been widely studied, SCD5 has both limited expression and poor characterization. Here we evaluated, in vitro and in vivo, the effects of SCD5 overexpression in a metastatic clone of 4T1. The results showed SCD5-driven reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism, involving desaturation of stearic acid to oleic acid, which eventually blocked SPARC secretion. The latter event reduced the aggressiveness of the 4T1 subclone by decreasing the ECM deposition and reverting the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) status. Variation of the fatty acid profile by SCD5-gene transduction or the direct administration oleic acid reduces the immune suppressive activity of myeloid cells and promoting granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cell maturation, eventually favoring T-cell activation. The less immunosuppressive microenvironment generated by SCD5 overexpression was enhanced in Sparc-KO mice, indicating that both extracellular and endogenous SPARC additively regulate myeloid cell-suppressive activities. Overall, our data sheds light on exploring the oleic acid-dependent inhibition of SPARC secretion as a possible mechanism to reduce breast cancer malignancy.

Lipid Metabolism and Cancer

Lipid metabolism is involved in the regulation of numerous cellular processes, such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, inflammation, movement, membrane homeostasis, chemotherapy response, and drug resistance. Reprogramming of lipid metabolism is a typical feature of malignant tumors. In a variety of cancers, fat uptake, storage and fat production are up-regulated, which in turn promotes the rapid growth, invasion, and migration of tumors. This paper systematically summarizes the key signal transduction pathways and molecules of lipid metabolism regulating tumors, and the role of lipid metabolism in programmed cell death. In conclusion, understanding the potential molecular mechanism of lipid metabolism and the functions of different lipid molecules may facilitate elucidating the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of cancer in order to discover new potential targets for the development of effective antitumor drugs.