Does dietary alpha-linolenic acid promote liver metastases in pancreatic carcinoma initiated by BOP in Syrian hamster?
BACKGROUND
alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA) has been shown to have a promoting effect on pancreatic carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ALA on liver metastases in a model of BOP-induced pancreatic ductular carcinoma in the Syrian golden hamster.


METHODS
While the control group (group V) received a standard diet low in fat (soya oil, 3 w/v) without ALA, groups I-IV were fed a diet high in fat (soya oil 25 w/v) with increasing percentages of ALA (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) for 16 weeks.


RESULTS
No significant differences in mean body weight and pancreas weight were found between the groups. But significant differences (p = 0.0001) were observed in the mean weight of the resected liver. Treatment with BOP alone resulted in the induction of well-differentiated ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 91%, while all groups treated with different amounts of ALA had induction of 100%. The incidence of liver metastases differed significantly between the groups. The incidence of liver metastases in group I (2.5% ALA) was 18%, in group II (5% ALA) 27%, in group III (7.5% ALA) 50%, and in group IV (10% ALA) 91%. Moreover, the diameter of liver metastases increased significantly according to ALA supplementation (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that dietary ALA increases liver metastases in BOP-initiated pancreatic cancer.
Wenger
F A
FA
Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery Charité, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. Charipanc@aol.com
Jacobi
C A
CA
Kilian
M
M
Zieren
J
J
Zieren
H U
HU
Müller
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D006224:Cricetinae; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015994:Incidence; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002273:Carcinogens; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D009153:Mutagens; D009602:Nitrosamines; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; C013622:nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine