Low Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels May Predict Inferior Prognosis in Untreated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A New Modifiable Dietary Biomarker?

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 70; no. 7; pp. 1088 - 1090
• Main Authors: Thanarajasingam, Gita, Maurer, Matthew J., Habermann, Thomas M., Nowakowski, Grzegorz S., Bennani, N. Nora, Thompson, Carrie A., Cerhan, James R., Witzig, Thomas E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 03-10-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; B-cell lymphoma; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Cancer; Diet; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes B; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - blood; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - mortality; Male; Medical prognosis; Middle Aged; Patients; Prognosis; Remission
• ISSN: 0163-5581; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2018.1502328

Dietary factors that may reduce the risk of relapse or prolong remission are an area of interest for patients with cancer. There is little data on the role of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) in patients diagnosed with lymphoma. This pilot biomarker study evaluated the prognostic significance of n-3 FA levels in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this analysis, low n-3 FA may be associated with inferior event free survival at 24 months in this disease. Larger studies are needed to confirm this association and could provide the basis for prospective investigation of whether modifying n-3 levels with diet may improve outcome in lymphoma.