title: Differential stimulatory and inhibitory responses of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells to linoleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid in culture.
abstract: Consumption of dietary fat has been linked to the high incidence of certain cancers. However, recent research has stimulated interest in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a newly recognized anticarcinogenic fatty acid. Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells were incubated for 12 d in culture medium supplemented with various concentrations (1.78-7.14 x 10(-5) M) of linoleic acid (LA) or CLA. Linoleic acid initially stimulated MCF-7 cell growth with an optimal effect at concentrations of 3.57-7.14 x 10(-5) M, but was inhibitory at similar concentrations after 8 and 12 d of incubation. In contrast, CLA was inhibitory to cancer cell growth at all concentrations and times tested. Cell growth inhibition by CLA was dose- and time-dependent. Growth retardation at the prescribed LA and CLA concentrations ranged, respectively, from 4 to 33% and 54 to 100% following 8 to 12 d of treatment. At similar LA and CLA concentrations, cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of CLA were more pronounced (8-81%) than LA. These in vitro results suggest that CLA is cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6376.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Seaman
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D008041:Linoleic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid