omega-3 PUFA regulate COX-2-mediated invasion in brain-metastatic melanoma.

This trial has interesting implications, particularly given its relation to metastasis. I do not know if the cell line referred to can be compared to BC lines.

We are again seeing suggestions of links between the eicosanoid pathway and cancer, suggestions that omega six upregulates and omega three downregulates.

There are lots on postings on this site on omega threes and sixes and BC.

As usual you should discuss it with your advisors before making significant changes in your own diet.


RB




1: J Lipid Res. 2005 Jun;46(6):1278-84. Epub 2005 Mar 16. Related Articles, Links
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Role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cyclooxygenase-2 metabolism in brain-metastatic melanoma.

Denkins Y, Kempf D, Ferniz M, Nileshwar S, Marchetti D.

Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. ydenkins@vetmed.lsu.edu

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is important in the progression of epithelial tumors. Evidence indicates that omega-6 PUFAs such as arachidonic acid (AA) promote the growth of tumor cells; however, omega-3 fatty acids [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] inhibit tumor cell proliferation. We investigated the effects of omega-3 PUFA on the expression and function of COX-2 in 70W, a human melanoma cell line that metastasizes to the brain in nude mice. We show that 1) tumor necrosis factor-alpha upregulates the expression of both COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and 2) omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA regulate COX-2 mRNA expression and PGE2 production. AA increased COX-2 mRNA expression and prostaglandin production in omega-6-stimulated 70W cells. Conversely, COX-2 mRNA expression decreased in cells incubated with EPA or DHA. AA increased Matrigel invasion 2.4-fold, whereas EPA or DHA did not. Additionally, PGE2 increased in vitro invasion 2.5-fold, whereas exposure to PGE3 significantly decreased invasion. Our results demonstrate that incubation of 70W cells with either AA or PGE2 increased invasiveness, whereas incubation with EPA or DHA downregulated both COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, with a subsequent decrease in Matrigel invasion. Taken together, these results indicate that omega-3 PUFA regulate COX-2-mediated invasion in brain-metastatic melanoma.

PMID: 15772428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]