Abstract
Aim: In previous animal studies, we confirmed that linoleic acid (LNA) enhanced colon carcinogenesis, whereas eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) had protective effects in azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis. In regard to the protective effects of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on colorectal cancer however, evidence from epidemiological studies is inconsistent. Materials and Methods: In the present study we investigated the fatty acid composition in plasma, red blood cells (RBCs) and adipose tissue from Japanese patients with colorectal cancer, or benign disease. Results: Sixty-one patients with histologically-confirmed colorectal cancer and 42 patients with non-malignant disease were recruited for this study. The fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid (PL) fraction of plasma and washed RBCs was determined by gas chromatography. The fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction of subcutaneous adipose tissue was determined in a similar manner. The EPA proportion in the plasma and RBC PL fractions was significantly lower in patients with cancer than in the controls (p<0.05). Similarly, the LNA proportion in the RBC PL fraction was lower in patients with cancer, but no changes were found in the plasma PL fraction. Arachidonic acid was the only PUFA in the adipose TAG fraction that exhibited significant differences, with higher levels in the patients with cancer than in the controls. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patients with cancer have abnormalities in PUFAs in the plasma PL, erythrocyte PL, and adipose TAG fractions. Further investigation is needed to clarify the differences in the results between the various fractions.
- n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids
- n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
- plasma
- erythrocytes
- adipose tissue
- colorectal cancer
- EPA
Footnotes
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↵* Current address: Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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Contributors
M. Okuno, H. Takada, T. Ogura, H. Kitade, T. Matsuura, R. Yoshida, T. Hijikawa, M. Kwon, S. Arita, M. Itomura, K. Hamazaki, and T. Hamazaki designed and performed the study; M. Okuno, H. Takada, T. Hamazaki, and K. Hamazaki wrote this article.
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Role of Funding Source
This work was partially supported by Polyene Project, Inc. The funding source had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit this article for publication.
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Conflicts of Interest Statement
K. Hamazaki has received research support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Tamura Foundation for Promotion of Science and Technology, and the Ichiro Kanehara Foundation for Promotion of Medical Sciences and Medical Care, and consultancy fees from Polyene Project, Inc. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., as well as lecture fees and research support from Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. M. Itomura has received consultancy fees from Polyene Project, Inc. T. Hamazaki has received research support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Open Research Center for Lipid Nutrition (Kinjo Gakuin University), and Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., consultancy fees from Polyene Project, Inc. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and lecture fees from Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- Received November 16, 2012.
- Revision received December 12, 2012.
- Accepted December 17, 2012.
- Copyright © 2013 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved