Arachidonic Acid Stimulates Cancer Growth

They found that this prompted the cells to grow at a rate nearly double that of control cells that did not receive arachidonic acid.

Analysis using gene chip technology showed that arachidonic acid induced 11 genes that were regulated by NF-kappaB. Within five minutes of addition of arachidonic acid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis was increased, and analysis of upstream signal transduction showed that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) was significantly activated. These events were followed by activation of Akt at 30 minutes, when a significant three-fold increase in translocation of NF-kappaB to the nucleus was seen. Interruption of the pathway by treatment with either a COX-2 inhibitor or with a PI3K inhibitor reversed the stimulatory effect of arachidonic acid. These findings were published in the February 1, 2006, issue of Cancer Research.

Senior author Dr. Mille Hughes-Fulford, director of the Laboratory of Cell Growth at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, said, "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. I am not a physician, and do not tell people how to eat, but in my own home I use only canola oil and olive oil. We do not eat deep-fried foods.”



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San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center