title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on progestin stimulation of invasive properties in breast cancer.
abstract: Clinical studies have shown that progestins increase breast cancer risk in hormone replacement therapy, while we and others have previously reported that progestins stimulate invasive properties in progesterone receptor (PR)-rich human breast cancer cell lines. Based on others' reports that omega-3 fatty acids inhibit metastatic properties of breast cancer, we have reviewed the literature for possible connections between omega-3 fatty-acid-driven pathways and progestin-stimulated pathways in an attempt to suggest theoretical mechanisms for possible omega-3 fatty acid inhibition of progestin stimulation of breast cancer invasion. We also present some data suggesting that fatty acids regulate progestin stimulation of invasive properties in PR-rich T47D human breast cancer cells, and that an appropriate concentration of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits progestin stimulation of invasive properties. It is hoped that focus on the inter-relationship between pathways by which omega-3 fatty acids inhibit and progestins stimulate breast cancer invasive properties will lead to further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies testing the hypothesis that omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit progestin stimulation of invasive properties in breast cancer, and ameliorate harmful effects of progestins which occur in combined progestin-estrogen hormone replacement therapy.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1 John Marshall Drive BBSC, Huntington, WV 25755, USA. moorem@marshall.edu
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Moore
authors: Rebecca A
authors: RA
authors: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D011372:Progestins; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone