A low dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 Fatty acids may delay progression of prostate cancer

Nutr Cancer. 2013;65(4):556-62. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.775316.

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Studies show that consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) modulates the development and progression of prostate cancer. High amounts of omega-6 fatty acids have been linked with increased prostate cancer risk, whereas omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to inhibit PCa growth. However, because omega-3 and omega-6 are both essential fatty acids and part of a complete diet, it is more relevant to determine the ideal ratio of the two that would allow patients to benefit from the therapeutic properties of omega-3 fatty acids. LNCaP prostate cancer cells were treated with dietary-based ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids under hormone-deprivation conditions, and effects on various cellular processes were determined. A low omega-6 to omega-3 PUFA ratio can delay the progression of cells toward castration-resistance by suppressing pathways involved in prostate cancer progression, such as the Akt/mTOR/NFκB axis. It also suppresses the expression of cyclin D1, and activation of caspase-3 and annexin V staining shows induction of proapoptotic events. Taken together, our data demonstrates that maintaining a low omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio can enhance efficacy of hormone ablation therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diet therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / prevention & control
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • Cyclin D1
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Caspase 3