Circulating plasma phospholipid fatty acid levels and breast cancer risk in the Cancer Prevention Study‐II Nutrition Cohort

Abstract

Prospective studies that objectively measure circulating levels of fatty acids are needed to clarify their role in the etiology of breast cancer. Thirty‐eight phospholipid fatty acids were measured using gas chromatograph in the plasma fraction of blood samples collected prospectively from 2718 postmenopausal women (905 breast cancer cases) enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. Associations of 28 fatty acids that passed quality control metrics (modeled as per 1‐SD increase) with breast cancer risk were assessed using multiple variable conditional logistic regression models to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The false discovery rate (q value) was computed to account for multiple comparisons. Myristic acid levels were positively associated with breast cancer risk (OR, 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07‐1.28; q value = 0.03). Borderline associations were also found for palmitoleic acid (OR, 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04‐1.24) and desaturation index16 (OR, 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.20) at nominal P values (<.03) (q values>0.05). These findings suggest that higher circulating levels of myristic acid, sourced from dietary intake of palm kernel oils along with increased de novo synthesis of fatty acids, may increase breast cancer risk. Additional studies are needed to investigate de novo synthesis of fatty acid in breast cancer tissues.

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

“…Most previous studies used plasma (25)(26)(27)(28)(29) or serum (30)(31)(32) n-3 PUFA as biomarkers to evaluate the association of n-3 PUFA with breast cancer risk. Although one study from plasma (28) supports our findings, most studies using plasma (25)(26)(27)29) or serum (30)(31)(32) n-3 PUFA as biomarkers reported null findings on the relationship between n-3 PUFA and breast cancer risk.…”

“…Most previous studies used plasma (25)(26)(27)(28)(29) or serum (30)(31)(32) n-3 PUFA as biomarkers to evaluate the association of n-3 PUFA with breast cancer risk. Although one study from plasma (28) supports our findings, most studies using plasma (25)(26)(27)29) or serum (30)(31)(32) n-3 PUFA as biomarkers reported null findings on the relationship between n-3 PUFA and breast cancer risk. Compared with the plasma or serum fatty acid, the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profile shows a longer time for fatty acid intake, approximately 4 months, and is not susceptible to the individual postprandial status (8,33) .…”

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

“…14 Another cohort study examining plasma phospholipid myristic acid (C14:0) found a similar positive relationship. 59 Conversely, the Nurses' Health Study reported null associations of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), and stearic acid (C18:0) levels in erythrocyte membranes with breast cancer risk. 60 However, in line with our findings, a multicentre case-control study indicated an inverse association between serum phospholipid stearic acid (C18:0) and odds of breast cancer.…”

Statins as anti‐tumor agents: A paradigm for repurposed drugs

“…These modifications are essential for regulating the activity of Rho and Ras family of GTPases, which are critical for signal transduction 8,9 . Furthermore, free fatty acids (FFAs), a product of the lipogenesis pathway, play a significant role not only in normal cellular signaling but also in dysregulated pathways leading to various disorders 10–12 …”

“…8,9 Furthermore, free fatty acids (FFAs), a product of the lipogenesis pathway, play a significant role not only in normal cellular signaling but also in dysregulated pathways leading to various disorders. [10][11][12] Hypercholesterolemia is a dyslipidemic condition characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream, which has abnormally high expression of the mevalonate pathway as one of the contributing factors. 13 Over the years, pharmaceutical research has led to the establishment of well-defined therapeutic approaches for this condition.…”