Role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in preventing gastrointestinal cancers: current status and future perspectives

• Published in: Expert review of anticancer therapy Vol. 18; no. 12; p. 1189
• Main Authors: Lee, Ho-Jae, Han, Young-Min, An, Jeong Min, Kang, Eun A, Park, Yong Jin, Cha, Ji-Young, Hahm, Ki Baik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.12.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - pharmacology; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - prevention & control; Helicobacter Infections - complications; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Humans; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation - prevention & control; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Fat-1 tg mice; cancer prevention; n-3 PUFA; gastrointestinal cancer; anticancer effect
• ISSN: 1744-8328
• DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2018.1524299

Although inflammation is defensive and healing process that maintains organ homeostasis, unresolved inflammation can lead to diseases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially n-6 PUFAs abundant in Western diet, are precursors of pro-inflammatory mediators, whereas n-3 PUFAs possess anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, interest in the cancer-preventive effect of n-3 PUFAs is increasing. Areas covered: We have observed significant reductions of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis in the Fat-1 transgenic mouse as evidenced that the decrease in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric tumorigenesis, colon, biliary, and pancreatic cancer was seen in Fat-1 mice producing n-3 PUFAs. However, despite many studies showing benefits, evidence-based medicine regarding molecular pathology, epidemiology, and clinical achievement of cancer prevention of n-3 PUFAs are still limited. Expert commentary: Primary deficiency of eicosapentaenoic acids and docosahexaenoic acids in Western diets can explain the risk of cancer development and the importance of n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio in reducing cancer risk. Alteration of cell membrane composition during carcinogenesis is particularly important, due to increased rate of lipid/cholesterol synthesis in cancerous tissues. Here, we discuss that direct incorporation of n-3 PUFAs in the cell membrane corrects abnormal cellular proliferation and decreases inflammation-associated carcinogenesis. This is exemplified by cancer-preventive effects of n-3 PUFAs as fat sources for gastrointestinal cancers.