Omega-6 fatty acids fuel prostate cancer growth

February 21, 2006

A study published in the February 1 2006 issue of the

journal Cancer Research reported that the addition of

an omega-6 fatty acid to cultured prostate cancer

cells doubled their growth rate compared to untreated

prostate cancer cells. Omega-6 fatty acids are found

in corn and other oils, and while they are essential,

some researchers believe that the high level of omega

6 relative to omega-3 fatty acids (which are found in

fish and other foods) in the modern American diet may

be harmful.

Researchers at the San Francisco Veterans

Administration Medical Center led by Millie

-Fulford, PhD, based the current investigation

on findings from previous research that omega-6 fatty

acid arachidonic acid stimulates the production of an

enzyme known as cPLA-2, which produces a chain

reaction ending in tumor growth. In the current study,

arachidonic acid was found to fuel prostate tumor cell

growth by turning on a gene signaling pathway.

" After we added omega-6 fatty acids to the growth

medium in the dish, and only omega-6, we observed that

tumors grew twice as fast as those without omega-6, "

Dr Fulford- explained. " Investigating the

reasons for this rapid growth, we discovered that the

omega-6 was turning on a dozen inflammatory genes that

are known to be important in cancer. We then asked

what was turning on those genes, and found that

omega-6 fatty acids actually turn on a signal pathway

called PI3-kinase that is known to be a key player in

cancer. "

Dr -Fulford observed that the rate of prostate

cancer in the U.S. has increased along with omega-6

intake. She added, " I'm not a physician, and do not

tell people how to eat, but I can tell you what I do

in my own home. I use only canola oil and olive oil.

We do not eat deep-fried foods. "

—D Dye

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