The effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on growth regulation of epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines.
OBJECTIVE
Omega-3 fatty acids (OM-3FAs) have been shown to possess anti-carcinogenic properties. We investigated the effect of OM-3FAs on epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines to determine if a growth suppressive effect existed and to gain a better insight on the potential molecular mechanisms that may be involved.


METHODS
Three epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV-3 [p53 null], TOV-21G [wt p53] and OVCAR-3 [mutant p53]) and one immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cell line (IOSE-29 [wt p53]) were treated with OM-3FAs and evaluated for cellular proliferation (WST-1 assay), apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC/PI method) and VEGF expression (VEGF ELISA assay).


RESULTS
A statistically significant inhibitory effect under the influence of OM-3FAs was detected in all four cell lines. Apoptosis and VEGF down-regulation were either limited or not detected in the p53 null and mutant cell lines, SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 respectively. Apoptosis and/or VEGF down-regulation was strongly evident in the wt p53 cell lines TOV-21G and IOSE-29.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that, under the influence of OM-3FAs, there are definitive growth suppressive mechanisms at work and that the biologic effects of OM-3FAs may in part be mediated by the p53 status.
Sharma
Arun
A
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, 820 South Wood Street (MC 808), Chicago, IL 60612-7313, USA.
Belna
Jennifer
J
Logan
Jennifer
J
Espat
Joseph
J
Hurteau
Jean A
JA
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis
D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A