Evidence indicates that a diet rich in omega (omega)-6
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [e.g.,
linoleic acid (LA)] increases
prostate cancer (PCa) risk, whereas a diet rich in omega-3 decreases risk. Precisely how these PUFAs affect disease development remains unclear. So we examined the roles that PUFAs play in PCa, and we determined if increased omega-3 consumption can impede
tumor growth. We previously demonstrated an increased expression of an omega-6 LA-metabolizing
enzyme, 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1, ALOX15), in prostate
tumor tissue compared with normal adjacent prostate tissue, and that elevated 15-LO-1 activity in PCa cells has a protumorigenic effect. A PCa cell line, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer-4 (LAPC-4), expresses
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as well an active 15-LO-1
enzyme. Therefore, to study whether or not the protumorigenic role of 15-LO-1 and dietary omega-6 LA can be modulated by altering omega-3 levels through diet, we surgically removed
tumors caused by LAPC-4 cells (mouse model to simulate radical
prostatectomy). Mice were then randomly divided into three different diet groups-namely, high omega-6 LA, high omega-3
stearidonic acid (SDA), and no fat-and examined the effects of omega-6 and
omega-3 fatty acids in diet on LAPC-4
tumor recurrence by monitoring for PSA. Mice in these diet groups were monitored for food consumption,
body weight, and serum PSA indicative of the presence of LAPC-4 cells.
Fatty acid methyl
esters from erythrocyte membranes were examined for omega-6 and omega-3 levels to reflect long-term dietary intake. Our results provide evidence that prostate
tumors can be modulated by the manipulation of omega-6:omega-3 ratios through diet and that the
omega-3 fatty acid SDA [precursor of
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)] promotes apoptosis and decreases proliferation in
cancer cells, causing decreased PSA doubling time, compared to omega-6 LA
fatty acid, likely by competing with the
enzymes of LA and AA pathways, namely, 15-LO-1 and
cyclooxygenases (COXs). Thus, EPA and DHA (major components of
fish oil) could potentially be promising dietary intervention agents in PCa prevention aimed at 15-LO-1 and COX-2 as molecular targets. These observations also provide clues as to its mechanisms of action.