The traditional diet of Greece and cancer.

[R.B.]

GREAT to see the forum back

FREE STUDENT PLACES (UK accredited conference at the Royal Society of Medicine - food section)

There are a small number of free student (medical nutrition related) places at the above, but the offer closes tomorrow apparently. If interested please Pmail me

Availability depends on demand but I will be delighted to pass the application on.

The spaces have now gone - sorry about the previous typos - did not see them at the time

[R.B.]

18:3n3 is linolenic acid the plant based 18 carbon found for example in flaxseed oil

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2033520/

FREE FULL TEXT available


Br J Cancer. 1994 Aug;70(2):330-4.
alpha-Linolenic acid content of adipose breast tissue: a host determinant of the risk of early metastasis in breast cancer.
Bougnoux P1, Koscielny S, Chajès V, Descamps P, Couet C, Calais G.
Author information
Abstract

The association between the levels of various fatty acids in adipose breast tissue and the emergence of visceral metastases was prospectively studied in a cohort of 121 patients with an initially localised breast cancer. Adipose breast tissue was obtained at the time of initial surgery, and its fatty acid content analysed by capillary gas chromatography. A low level of alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) in adipose breast tissue was associated with positive axillary lymph node status and with the presence of vascular invasion, but not with tumour size or mitotic index. After an average 31 months of follow-up, 21 patients developed metastases. Large tumour size, high mitotic index, presence of vascular invasion and low level of 18:3n-3 were single factors significantly associated with an increased risk of metastasis. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify prognostic factors. Low 18:3n-3 level and large tumour size were the two factors predictive of metastases. These results suggest that host alpha-linolenic acid has a specific role in the metastatic process in vivo. Further understanding of the biology of this essential fatty acid of the n-3 series is needed in breast carcinoma.

[R.B.]

Eur J Cancer. 2000 Feb;36(3):335-40.
Low alpha-linolenic acid content of adipose breast tissue is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Klein V1, Chajès V, Germain E, Schulgen G, Pinault M, Malvy D, Lefrancq T, Fignon A, Le Floch O, Lhuillery C, Bougnoux P.
Author information
Abstract

Data derived from experimental studies suggest that alpha-linolenic acid may have a protective effect in breast cancer. Observations obtained from epidemiological studies have not allowed conclusions to be drawn about a potential protective effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid on breast cancer, possibly because of methodological issues. This case-control study conducted in an homogeneous population from a central area in France was designed to explore the hypothesis that alpha-linolenic acid inhibits breast cancer, using fatty acid levels in adipose breast tissue as a biomarker of past qualitative dietary intake of fatty acids. Biopsies of adipose breast tissue at the time of diagnosis were obtained from 123 women with invasive non-metastatic breast carcinoma. 59 women with benign breast disease served as controls. Individual fatty acids were analysed by capillary gas chromatography. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to obtain odds ratio estimates whilst adjusting for age, menopausal status and body mass index (BMI). No association was found between fatty acids (saturates, monounsaturates, long-chain polyunsaturates n-6 or n-3) and the disease, except for alpha-linolenic acid which showed an inverse association with the risk of breast cancer. The relative risk of breast cancer for women in the highest quartile of adipose breast tissue alpha-linolenic acid level was 0.36 (95% confidence interval=0.12-1.02) compared with those in the lowest quartile (P trend=0.026), suggesting a protective effect of alpha-linolenic acid in the risk of breast cancer. The effects of dietary alpha-linolenic on the risk of breast cancer warrant further study.