title: The role of the tissue omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in regulating tumor angiogenesis.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a necessary step in tumor growth and metastasis. It is well established that the metabolites of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which must be obtained through the diet and cannot be synthesized de novo in mammals, have differential effects on cellular processes. Omega-6 fatty acid (n-6 FA)-derived metabolites promote angiogenesis by increasing growth factor expression whereas omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) have anti-angiogenic and antitumor properties. However, most studies thus far have failed to account for the role of the n-6 FA/n-3 FA ratio in angiogenesis and instead examined the absolute levels of n-6 and n-3 FA. This review highlights the biochemical interactions between n-6 and n-3 FA and focuses on how the n-6/n-3 FA ratio in tissues modulates tumor angiogenesis. We suggest that future work should consider the n-6/n-3 FA ratio to be a key element in experimental design and analysis. Furthermore, we recommend that clinical interventions should aim to both reduce n-6 metabolites and simultaneously increase n-3 FA intake.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. kang.jing@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Jing X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6