Anticancer actions of omega-3 fatty acids--current state and future perspectives

• Published in: Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 457
• Main Authors: Wendel, Martina, Heller, Axel R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-05-2009
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclooxygenase 2 - physiology; Dietary Fats - therapeutic use; Dinoprostone - metabolism; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Lipoxins - biosynthesis; Lipoxins - physiology; Male; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - drug effects; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - physiology; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - physiology
• ISSN: 1875-5992
• DOI: 10.2174/1871520610909040457

Omega-3 fatty acids (omega3-FA) were shown to attenuate growth and induce apoptosis in a variety of human cancer cell lines derived from colonic, pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancer. In addition, recent findings indicate that omega3-FA act synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents and may also be used to enhance tumour radiosensitivity. The mechanisms underlying the anti-tumour effects of omega3-FA are complex. Incorporation of omega3-FA in biological membranes alters the profile of lipid mediators generated during inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, omega3-FA act as ligands of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors that attenuate transcription of NF-kappaB-dependent genes. Thereby, the cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E(2)-dependent production of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor and levels of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 and bcl-X(L) are decreased. Eicosanoid-independent pro-apoptotic pathways include enhanced lipid peroxidation, modulation of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species as well as activation of p53. This review article will give a comprehensive overview over the pleiotropic actions of omega3-FA and will discuss the potential of omega3-FA and derivatives like conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid as important nutritional adjuvant therapeutics in the management of various human cancer diseases and the impact of nutritional omega-3 FA on cancer prevention.