Effects of Reduced Dietary Linoleic Acid Intake, Alone or Combined With an Algal Source of Docosahexaenoic Acid, on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Apoptosis in Nude Mice

Enhanced anticancer properties of lomustine in conjunction with docosahexaenoic acid in glioblastoma cell lines

“…Previous reports from our laboratory have extensively described the anticancer activities of DHA in various in vitro cell systems as well as in vivo models. 4,5,14,32,33,35,42 Furthermore, our laboratory has reported the added benefit of either using DHA in conjunction with known anticancer compounds or directly conjugating DHA with compounds to significantly enhance its anticancer efficacy. Since DHA is the most abundant PUFA in the brain and has been shown to possess anticancer properties, we hypothesized that combining DHA with a currently used chemotherapeutic reagent would result in significantly greater anticancer potential.…”

Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate breast cancer growth through activation of a neutral sphingomyelinase‐mediated pathway

“…Proof of these fatty acids as anticancer agents has been substantiated by dietary studies on many types of animals, including humans and in cultured cells. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] A number of studies have indicated that DHA's anticancer properties are not directly due to cytotoxicity but rather to the fatty acid's ability to induce apoptosis. [15][16][17][18] However, the molecular mechanism for the anticancer actions of omega-3 fatty acids remains unknown.…”

“…Numerous studies, including our own, 5,[19][20][21][22][23][24] have linked fish oil to induction of apoptosis. We found that DHA activates sphingomyelinase (SMYase) activity in the plasma membrane of Jurkat leukemic cells, increasing ceramide levels.…”

Biomarkers of dietary fatty acid intake and the risk of breast cancer: A meta‐analysis

“…The results suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids of the linoleic group (n-6 PUFA) stimulate mammary tumor development, 3,4 whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids of the linolenic group (n-3 PUFA) and especially those from marine origin (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) inhibit tumor growth in mice. 5 Saturated fatty acids were associated with an increase of breast cancer risk in experimental animal studies, 6 whereas monounsaturated fatty acids and especially oleic acid have been shown to protect against breast cancer. 7 Although the exact mechanism by which dietary fatty acids can modulate mammary carcinogenesis remain still unknown, metabolites of n-6 PUFA are believed to have an important impact.…”

“…9,10 An increase of the n-3 fatty acids at the expense of n-6 could also counteract the tumor promoting effect of n-6 PUFA by decreasing the production of n-6 metabolites. 5 Polyunsaturated fatty acids of n-6 family and particularly linoleic acid can also enhance mammary tumorigenesis by inhibiting the cellular gap junctions. The latter allows cellular communication and homeostasis.…”